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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.

(Wiseman,) Wys(e)man, n. Also: wis-, vis(e)-, vys(e)-, wysse-, vyce-, wyis-, vyise-, wayis- and -man. Pl. -men(n, -mene. [ME and e.m.E. wis(e)mon (both Ancr. R.), wis man (c1300), wise men (Trevisa), wyse man (c1400).] a. A man who possesses sound judgment. One who is prudent, competent or sharp-witted. b. A learned man, a scholar.Chiefly pl. Freq. in reference to the dispensing of advice or uttering of maxims by wise men.Also as a personal name or part of a place-name. 1225 Reg. Episc. Morav. 21.
Willelmo Wysman 13… Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 74.
Willelmo Wyseman — 1460 Exch. R. VI 621.
De firmis terrarum de Wysemanystouna., b. sing. a1400 Leg. S. l 96.
To spek with thé this I begane, Wenand thu had bene a wisman c1420 Wynt. v 296.
He in tyll hys story sayis Thare wes a wysman in thai dayis 1424–5 Acts II 8/1.
That … thar be chosyn a wys man … the quhilk sall be haldyn dekyn or maister man our the layff [of each craft] c1460 Wisd. Sol. (STS) 294.
Al the vismanis wyt is in his mouth, and … euir is techand and lerand c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 197/25.
Thair suld na wyis man [M. wyse man] gif audience To sic ane without intelligence 1551 Hamilton Cat. 6.
Exhortand … all … to follow the counsale quhilk the wisman gevis thame 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. 10a.
In ane wysman it is na … cryme His maneris to change according to the tyme(b) 1573 Davidson in Sat. P. xlii 735.
I think na wayis man will deny Bot it wer better verraly Ane steding for till laubour weill [etc.]pl. 1375 Barb. i 583.
Wys mennys etling Cummys nocht ay to that ending That thai think it sall cum to 1375 Barb. xi 22 (C).
Wis menis a1400 Leg. S. vii 189.
Faraseis & wysmene Of Jowis 1398–9 Acts I 210/2.
He be oblygit … til gouerne … with the consail general and in the absence of thaim with the consail of wyse men & lele of the qwhilkis ther arr the namys c1420 Wynt. viii 786 (C).
That thai walde brynge … Off the thre estatis … Bischoppis, erlis and barownys, Honerabil burges awenande, Wyssemen commendyt and connande c1420 Ratis R. 1747.
For the gud of richt riches … wise men c1460 Wisd. Sol. (STS) 324.
Bettir is crabing na blythnes or laiching … for vysmen are ay sad and fulys ay blyth c1460 Thewis Wysmen 298.
Vismen a1500 Bk. Chess 85.
Wysmen a1508 Want of Wyse Men 40 (Ch. & M.).
Want of visemen makis fulis sitt on bynkis 1527 Aberd. B. Rec. I 117.
Your lordschip desiris ws … to be bundin to the ouphaldin of the said brig, it beand completit one your expensis, in the maist souer wise cane be devisit be wismen and men of craft 1527 Douglas Corr. 122.
Wysmenn 1535 Stewart 42657.
As wysmen sayis, ay lyke drawis to lyke 1549 Compl. 16/7.
I hope that vyise men vil reput my ignorance for ane mortifeit prudens 15.. Dunb. App. vi 110.
All wyismen will hald me excusit, For nevir in land quhair Eriche was vsit, To dwell had I dellyte a1568 Bann. MS 267a/11.
Stay wysemen to study on the lawis And vane janglaris to be but dowbill sawis … Than sall my lady luve me & no mo 1622-6 Bisset I 69/20.
Sex vyse men and discreit, of ilk ane of thrie estaittis, quhilk knew the lawes best, suld have bene chosin … and mended the lawes that neided mendiment(b) a1568 Wedderburn in Bann. MS 287b/34.
Thairfoir vyce men sowld mak for thé no mane Becaus thow art all with the glaikis ourgane