C17: a form derived from iwis, mistakenly interpreted as I wis I know, as if from Old English witan to know
Wis. in British English
abbreviation for
Wisconsin
Wisconsin in British English
(wɪsˈkɒnsɪn)
noun
1.
a state of the N central US, on Lake Superior and Lake Michigan: consists of an undulating plain, with uplands in the north and west; over 168 m (550 ft) above sea level along the shore of Lake Michigan. Capital: Madison. Pop: 5 472 299 (2003 est). Area: 141 061 sq km (54 464 sq miles)
Abbreviation: Wis., Wis or (with zip code) WI
2.
a river in central and SW Wisconsin, flowing south and west to the Mississippi. Length: 692 km (430 miles)
Wis in American English
1.
Wisconsin
: also Wisc
2. Bible
Wisdom of Solomon
wis in American English
(wɪs)
verb transitive
Archaic
to suppose; imagine; deem
Word origin
< iwis, erroneously understood as “I know”
Examples of 'wis' in a sentence
wis
`It wis him that cam back tae the Island fuhl o Prince Kropotkin and started posting pamphlets on the Toun Hall.
Adair, Tom (Intro) THREE KINDS OF KISSING - SCOTTISH SHORT STORIES