wise-likeadj.adv.
/ˈwʌɪzlʌɪk/, U.S. /ˈwaɪzlaɪk/, Scottish English /ˈwaɪslaɪk/ Scottish and dialect.
A. adj.
1. Reasonable, rational.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > [adjective] > exercising reason
reasonablec1400
rational1598
fair1603
sober1638
intelligencing1658
unperverse1665
open1672
wise-like1816
sane1843
1816 W. Scott Old Mortality i, in Tales of my Landlord 1st Ser. III. 19 It wad hae been lang or my Leddy Margaret..wad hae found out sic a wiselike doctrine in the Bible!
1818 S. E. Ferrier Marriage i. xii. 132 It wad set her better to be carrying a wise-like wean in her arms, than trailing aboot wi' thae confoonded dougs an' paurits.
1894 R. O. Heslop Northumberland Words That's a wise-like dog o' yors.
2. Becoming, seemly, respectable, proper: esp. in appearance.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > good taste > pleasing fitness > [adjective] > seemly or decorous
seemly?c1225
comelya1350
seemc1400
setting1535
comingc1540
decent1545
civil1582
handsome1583
mensefula1598
sprunt1631
semblable1647
proper1738
orthodox1755
decorous1792
comme il faut1818
wise-like1820
1820 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Nov. 148 Talking..o thrashing ripe rigs wi' the west wind..may look very wiselike in rhyme.
1842 J. Aiton Domest. Econ. (1857) 123 Make it something ‘wiselike’ and substantial, that it may remain as a monument of your own liberality and good sense.
1881 Academy 15 Oct. 289/3 Jane..wice-like rather than pretty.
1894 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. June 754/1 He was considered by..many ladies of the parish to be a very personable man, comely.., and altogether a wyss-like man.
B. adv.
Fittingly, becomingly, respectably.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > [adverb] > with propriety
comelyOE
seemlyc1320
menskfullya1375
tallya1375
comelilyc1400
comelywise1440
decently1552
decent1716
decorously1808
properly1811
wise-like1822
the mind > attention and judgement > good taste > pleasing fitness > [adverb] > in seemly or decorous manner
comelyOE
menskful?c1225
seemlyc1320
menskfullya1375
tallya1375
comelilyc1400
comelywise1440
handsomely1525
decently1552
civilly1593
decent1716
comme il faut1756
decorously1808
wise-like1822
spiffily1977
1822 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Sept. 315 They ought to hire a chaise, and gang in till Edinburgh wiselike.
1841 Fraser's Mag. Jan. 109/2 Dinna gang ramstam in, saying, ‘Janet, here's meal; and Janet, here's butter’;..slip cannily and wiselike in.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1928; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adj.adv.1816