A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1375-1585
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I wis, adv. Also: I wise, wys(e, vis, vish, (wish,) and i wis, iwis. [ME. (and e.m.E.) ywisse, iwisse (c 1250), iwis (12th c.), ywis, also I wis (a 1300), OE. ᵹewis adj. (= certain) and adv. Only in verse and usually in rhyme.In Sc., almost always written as two words, with capital I. Forms with y- were appar. not used in Sc.Common rhyming words are is, blis, kis, his, mis, this, and rhymes occur also with wis (= wish) and inflexional -is.]
Certainly, assuredly, indeed, truly. (Often with weakened sense as a mere verse-tag.)Appar. sometimes (perh. usually) understood as a verbal phrase on a par with ‘I avow, I undertake’ or ‘I believe, I trow, I ween’.(a) 1375 Barb. xvi. 654.
This was ane weill gret strynth i-wis [E. I wis] a1400 Legends of the Saints xxix. 406.
For-thi wa tyd is ȝou I wis That ȝoure gud modir now mon mys ?1438 Alex. ii. 3641.
I grantit ȝow my lnfe I wis c1450-2 Howlat 97.
The Pape wyslie I wis of worschipe the well, Gaif him his braid benesoun c1450-2 Ib. 512. a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 161.
Thow hes walkit I wis in mony wyld land c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 37.
Ane wes ane wedow I wis wantoun of laitis c1500-c1512 Ib. 245.
Than said the weido, I vis ther is no way othir a1568 Bell. Bannatyne MS 5 b/138.
The rose … fallis doun but ony fruct I wis 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 6638.
That verray knicht he is sum witche I wis 1572 Satirical Poems xxxiii. 80.
For, quhen the heid is seik, the prouerb is, That all the members be the worse I wis a1585 Maitland Quarto MS xlix. 33.
Nor ȝit Penelope I wis So luiffed Vlisses in hir dayis(b) a1400 Legends of the Saints ii. 886.
For-thi quhen the play best is, Best is to lefe than I wyse a1400 Ib. xxxv. 68.
Scho sad; ‘Ȝa, I wyse, I tren that God is’ c1460 Thewis Wysmen 75.
Fore al mankind is knawin I wys Be froyt that of hym cumand is a1500 Golagros and Gawane 461.
With alkin wappyns I wys that wes for were wroght 1513 Doug. i. vi. 159.
Thy schippys … Owdir ar herbryit in the havyn I wys Or … entris in the port be this 1513 Ib. xii. 5.
Thi desyre, lady, is Renewing of ontellabill sorow I wys 1513 Ib. ix. 1513 Prol. 11.
Be nocht rakles to say sone ȝa, I wys(c) 1581 Satirical Poems xliv. 258.
The bangister Hayis saibe the vther tuay; Ane is the tyrane, the vther fais, I vish
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"I Wis adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 16 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/i_wis>
