wisdom, wisdam, wysdome, wysedome

[A. S. wisdom, from wis -wise, and suff. -dóm-Eng. doom=judgment; Icel. visdómr; Sw. visdom; Dan. visdom, vüsdom.] *I. Ordinary Language : 1. The quality or state of being wise; the power or faculty of seeing into the heart of things and of forming the fittest and best judgment in any mat ter presented for consideration; knowledge and the capacity to make due use of it; knowledge of or the capacity to discern the best ends and the best means; a combination of discernment, judgment, sagacity, or similar powers with knowledge, especially that knowledge which is gained from experience. (It is often nearly synonymous with discretion, sagacity , or prudence , and frequently it implies little more than sound common-sense, perfect soundne of mind or intellect, and hence is often opposed to folly .) "Show your wisdom , daughter, In your close patience." Shakesp.: Measure for Measure , iv. 3. 2. Human learning, science, knowledge, erudi tion; knowledge of arts and sciences. "Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians," -Acts vii. 22. *3. Quickne of intellect; readine of apprehen. sion; dexterity in execution. "In the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom that they may make all that I have commanded thee."- Exodus xxx i. 7. *4. Natural instinct and sagacity. "God hath deprived her [the peacock] of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding." -Job xxxix. 17. *5. With a po e ive pronoun, used as a title of respect. (Cf. your highne , your worship , .) "Under such a religious orderly Government as your Wisdomes, upon the abolishing of Episcopacy, shall please to erect among us."-W. Prynne: Antipathie , pt. 11. II. Script.: Right judgment concerning religious and moral truth; true religion; piety; the knowledge and fear of God and sincere and uniform obedience to his commands. "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."- Psalm xc. 12. (1) The Wisdom of Solomon : Apocrypha: An apocryphal book, named in Gr. Sophia Salōmōn, or Salomōntos , generally placed sixth in order between "the rest of Esther" and Ecclesiastic us. Its author profe es that he is a king (vii. 1-6; ix. 7), and son of a worthy father, also a king (12). He himself prayed to God for boil, boy; pout, jowl; cat, çell, chorus, more probable date was B. C. 150 to 50, or more nearly correct, then Wisdom is the most ancient Jewish book except Daniel (xii, 2, 3), in which the doctrine of rewards and punishments in a future state is clearly set forth; but it differs from Daniel in teaching the immortality of the soul, without reference to the resurrection of the body. It is the first book which identifies the serpent which tempted Eve with the Devil (cf. Wisd. ii. 24 with Gen. iii. 1-5, 14, John viii. 44, and Rev. xii. 9, xx. 10). entertaining high respect for its author, and derivNo one can study the Book of Wisdom without wisene 7. Calculating, crafty, cunning, subtle, warp, wily, "He taketh the wise in their own craftine ." Job v. 18. 8. Godly, pious, religious. "From a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation."-2 Timothy iii. 15. *Used adverbially : Wisely, sagaciously, prudently. "Thou speak est wiser than thou art ware of." Shakesp.: As You Like It , ii. 4 *B. As subst.: Wisdom. ( Milton .) Never the wiser (or similar phrases): Without any intelligence or information; still in utter ignorance. dexterous. wise-hearted, a. Wise, skillful, experienced, "And every wise-hearted among you shall come, and make all that the Lord hath commanded."- Exodus xxxv. 10. IMG:content-0952.png:[blocks in formation] "Pray was 't not the wise-woman of Brent ford?"Shakesp.: Merry Wives, iv. 5. 2. A midwife. ( Scotch.) In sense 2, perhaps a direct translation of Fra femme sage, and thus a relic of the old connection between France and Scotland.