wis

Meanings

Adverb

• Certainly, surely.
• Really, truly.
• Indeed.

Adjective

• Certain.
• Sure.

Verb

• To know.
• To think, suppose.
• To imagine, ween; to deem.

Origin

• From Middle English wis ("certain, sure"), from an aphetic form of Middle English iwis (from Old English ġewiss ("certain, sure")), or of North Germanic origin, akin to Icelandic viss ("certain"). Ultimately from Proto-Germanic *gawissaz. More at iwis.
• From an incorrect division, mistaking iwis for I wis. See ywis for more information. The German verb wissen appears similar, but in fact corresponds etymologically to the English verb wit; both of those verbs ultimately descend from the same Proto-Indo-European root as this one.