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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Wis, Wise, v.² Also: vis, wys(e, weis(e, wische, wish. P.p. also wise. [ME and e.m.E. wisse(n (c1175), wise(n, wissie(n (both Layamon), wis(s (both Cursor M.), wyse (Manning), wysse (Rolle), wissh (c1400), wysh (c1460, north.) OE wísian, wissian, MLG, MDu. wîsen, ON vísa.] tr.

1. To direct (a person) to a place, to show (a person) the way, direct (a person).pres. 1375 Barb. iv 478.
‘Dame,’ said the king, ‘wald thow me wis [C. vis] To that place quhar thar repair is I sall reward thé but lesing' a1400 Leg. S. xxxviii 619.
Lattis me wit quhen come ȝe, & in quhat hawine ȝe wald be, & I sal wis ȝou the rycht way c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus ii 551.
[Of] courtesie ȝe wald me wis sum gait, [Qu]hair ȝe beleue I may kindnes obtene(b) a1500 Sir Eger 2169.
Wish me good friend … Where that I may get any man, Where [etc.] 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1929 (Ch.).
Wische [B. Wis] me the richt way till Sanct-Androesp.p. a1500 Sir Eger 875.
Ye may be wise, The nearest gate and where it lyes. I shal you tell wonderful well, That ye shal not go wrong a deal

b. To guide, direct (an animal) to a place. a1700 Mare of Colinton 65.
He warily did her [sc. the mare] weise and weild, To Collingtoun-Broom, a full gude beild

2. transf.To show (someone) how to understand something, to inform, instruct; advise (a person). Also absol. and ellipt. Cf. also Vise v. to which some examples may rather belong. c1420 Ratis R. 26.
Gyf thow vald wyt quhat thing it is Eftir as I can I sall thé wys 1452–3 Ayr B. Ct. 12 March.
Gif thir men can nocht by thair gudis worth siluer thai sal ask counsel & be avisit with a part of the best & the worthiast of the standand commission & wisit with counsel of thaim c1475 Wall. xi 664.
Thai … Sperd at this child, gyff he couth wys thaim ocht, Quhar thai mycht best off purviance for to wyn a1568 Bann. MS 217b/25.
Sall I wis thé fra this way Sa thow tak heid vnto my lair 1595 Cal. Sc. P. XI 622.
[I would] weis [you to write your mind to MacLean]absol. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 820.
Syne wirk as I wise, your vappins to weildellipt. 1494 Aberd. B. Rec. I 54.
To provid and schew sic richtis as thai [sc. the Lords of Council] wald wyse anent the clame of the forest of Stokat … the lordis of counsall thairwith, riplie avisit, decretis and deliueris [etc.]