| 释义 |
wise·acre
\ˈwīˌzākə(r)\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle Dutch wijssegger soothsayer, modification (influenced by Middle Dutch segger sayer, from seggen to say + -er; akin to Old English secgan to say) of Old High German wīzzago prophet; akin to Old English wītega wise man, prophet, wītan to observe, see to, reproach — more at say, wite
1. : one who represents himself as well-informed or clever : know-it-all, smart aleck
< has now demonstrated that this subterranean reservoir, which wiseacres contended was fed by a flowing underground stream, can be emptied and caused to remain empty — D.D.Martin >
2. : wise man, sage — usually used disparagingly
< some of the saws of the old rural wiseacres — A.O.D.Claxton > |