Volume 2
A dictionary of the English language: in which the words are deduced from their originals, and illustrated in their different significations by examples from the best writers. To which are prefixed, a history of the language, and an English grammar / by Samuel Johnson.
- Samuel Johnson
- Date:
- 1755
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: A dictionary of the English language: in which the words are deduced from their originals, and illustrated in their different significations by examples from the best writers. To which are prefixed, a history of the language, and an English grammar / by Samuel Johnson. Source: Wellcome Collection.
1137/1176
![Heav’n is for thee too high ; be lowly wife. Milton. All their writings were compofed in verfe, which were called runes, or viifes, and from thence the term of wife came. Te/np. Since the floods demand For their defcent a prone and linking land : . *. Does not this due declivity declare, A wife director’s providential care ? Blackmore. The wifejl and belt men in all ages, have lived up to the religion of their country, when they faw nothing in it oppo- fite to morality. Addijon. 2. Skilful; dextrous. Speak unto all that are zvife-hearted, whom I have filled with the fpirit of wifdom, that they may make Aaron’s gar¬ ments. Ex. xxviii. 3. Do we count him a wife man, who is wife in any thing but his own proper profeflion and employment, and wife for every body but himfelf ? Tillotfon. They are wife to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. Jer. iv. 22. 3. Skilled in hidden arts. There was an old fat woman even now with me.- •—Pray, was’t not the wile woman of Brainford ? Sbakefp. 4. Grave ; becoming a wife man. One eminent in wife deport fpake much. Milton. WISE, n.f [pipe, Saxon; wjfe> Dutch; weife, German; guifey Fr. guijcty Italian.] Manner; way of being or aCting. This word, in the modern dialed, is often corrupted into ways. This fong fhe fings in moft commanding wife ; Come, fhepherd’s boy, let now thy heart be bow’d To make itfelf to my leaft look a Have. Sidney. Ere we farther pafs, I will devife A paffport for us both, in fitted: wife. Hubberd's Tale. On this wife ye fhall blefs Ifrael. Numb. vi. 23. The lovers Handing in this doleful wife, A warrior bold approached. Fairfax, With foam upon thy lips, and fparkling eyes, Thou fay’ft and do’ft in fuch outrageous wife, That mad Oreftes, if he faw the ihow, Wou’d fwear thou wert the madder of the two. Dryden. ’Tis in no wife ftrange that fuch a one fhould believe, that things were blindly fhuffled. Woodward. Wisea'cre n.f. [It was antiently written wifefegger, as the Dutch wifegghery a foothfayer.J 2. A wife, or fententious man. Obfolete. 2. A fool ; a dunce. Why, fays a wifeacre that fat by him, were I as the king of France, I would fcorn to take part with footmen. AddiJ'on. Wj/sely. adv. [from wife.] Judicioufly ; prudently. If thou covet death, as utmoft end Of mifery ; fo thinking to evade The penalty pronounc’d ; doubt not God Hath wifelier arm’d his vengeful ire. Milton's Par. Loft. He fits like difcontented Damocles, When by the fportive tyrant wifely fhown. The dangerous pleafure of a flatter’d throne. Dryden. Admitting their principles to be true, they aCt wifely : they keep their end, evil as it is, fteadily in view. Rogers. The doCtors, tender of their fame. Wifely on me lay all the blame : We muft confefs his cafe was nice, But he wou’d never take advice. Swift. Wi'seness. n.f. [from wife.} Wifdom; fapience. Obfolete. No lefs deferveth his wittinefs in devifing, his pithinefs in uttering, his paftoral rudenefs, and his moral wifenefs. Spcnfer. To WISH. v. n. [prpcian, Saxon.] 1. To have ftrong defire; to long. The fun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wifhed in himfelf to die. Jonah iv. 8. ThatNoah or Janus underftood navigation, may be very well fupported by his image found upon the firft Roman coins. One fide was ftamptwith a Janus bifrons, and the other with a roftrum, or prow of a fhip. This is as good an argument as an antiquary could wijh for. Arbuthnot on Coins. 2. To be difpofed, or inclined. Thofe potentates, who do not wijh well to his affairs, have (hewn refpeCt to his perfonal character. Addifon. 3. It has a flight fignification of hope. I wijh it may not prove fome ominous foretoken of misfor¬ tune, to have met with fuch a mifer as I am. Sidney. To Wish. v. a. 1. To defire ; to long for. He was fain to pull him out by the heels, and Ihew him the beaft as dead as he could wijh it. Sidney, b. i. If all the year were playing holidays, To fport would be as tedious as to work ; But when they feldom come, they wifht for come. Shakefp. They have more than heart could wijh. Pf. Ixxiii. 7. There are Ihips prepar’d by my command, That fhall convey you to the wifht-for port. Addifon's Cato. 2. To recommend by wifhing. Had I as many fons as I have hairs, I would not wijh them to a fairer death. Shakefp. Macbeth. 3. To imprecate. If heavens have any grievous plague in ftore. Exceeding thofe that I can wijh upon thee ; O let them keep it till thy fins be ripe. And then hurl down their indignation. Shakefp. Rich. IIL 4. To afk. Digby fhould find the beft way to make Antrim communi¬ cate the affair to him, and to wijh his affiftance. Clarendon. Wish. n.f. [from the verb.] 1. Longing defire. To his wijhy Beyond his hope. Eve feparate he fpies. Milton. A wijh is properly the defire of a man fitting or lying flill; but an aCt of the will, is a man of bufinefs vigoroufly going about his work. South's Sermons, 2. Thing defired. What next I bring fhall pleafe thee ; be affur’d, Thylikenefs, thy fit help, thy other felf. Thy wijh, exaCtly to thy heart’s defire. Milton s Par. Left. 3. Defire expreffed. Shame come to Romeo !- —Blifter’d be thy tongue For fuch a wijh. Shakefpeare's Romeo and Juliet. I admire your whig-principles of refiftance in the fpirit of • the Barcelonians : I join in your wijh for them. Pope. Wi's hedLy. adv. [from wifhed.] According to defire. Not ufed. What could have happened unto him more wijhedlyy than with his great honour to keep the town ftill. Knolles. Wi's her. n.f. [from wif).] 1. One who longs. 2. One who expreffes wifhes. With half that wifh, the wifher's eyes be prefs’d. Shakefp. Wi'shfur. adj. [from wijh and full.] Longing ; fhowing defire. From Scotland am I ftol’n ev’n of pure love, To greet mine own land with my wijhful fight. Shakefpeare. WFshfully. adv. [from wijhful.] Earrteftly; with longing. Wi'sket. n.f. A bafket. Ainfworth. Wisp. n.f. [wifp, Swedifh, and old Dutch.] A fmall bundle, as of hay or ftraw. A gentleman would faft five days, without meat, bread, or drink ; but the fame ufed to have continually a great wifp of herbs that he fmelled on : and amongft thofe, fome efculent herbs of ftrong feent, as onions. Bacon's Nat. Hifl. Jews, who their whole wealth can lay In a fmall bafket, on a wifp of hay. Dryden, Wist. pret. and part, of wis. Wi'stful. adj. 1. Attentive ; eafneft ; full of thought. Why, Grubbinel, doft thou 16 wiflful feem ? There’s forrow in thy look. Gay's Pajlorals. 2. It is ufed by Swift, as it feems, for wijhful. Lifting up one of my fafhes, I caft many a wiflful melan¬ choly look towards the fea. Gulliver's Travels. Wi'stfully. adv. [from wiflful.] Attentively; earneftly. W ith that he fell again to pry Through perfpeCtive more wijlfully. Hudibras. Wi'stly. adv. [from wis.] Attentively; earneftly. Speaking it, he wiflly look’d on me ; As who (hall fay,—I would thou wert the man. Shakefp. To Wit. v. n. [pitan, Saxon.] To know. This word is now only ufed in the phrafe to wit; that is to fay. There is an officer, to wit, the fheriff of the {hire, whofe office it is, to walk up and down his bailiwick. Spenfer. Yet are thefe feet, whofe ftrengthlefs ftay is numb, Unable to fupport this lump of clay, Swift-winged with defire to get a grave ; As wittingy I no other comfort have. Shakefp. Hen. VI. WIT. n.f. [yjepir, Saxon ; from pitan, to know.] 1. The powers of the mind ; the mental faculties; the intel¬ lects. This is the original fignification. Who would fet his wit to fo foolifh a bird ? Shakefpeare. The king your father was reputed for A prince moft prudent, of an excellent And unmatch’d wit and judgment. Shakefp. Hen. VIII. Will puts in praCtice what the wit devifeth : Will ever aCts, and wit contemplates ftill: And as from wit the power of wifdom rifeth. All other virtues daughters are of will. Will is the prince, and wit the counfellor. Which doth for common good in council fit; And when wit is refolv’d, will lends her power To execute what is advis’d by wit. Davies's Ireland. For wit and pow’r, their laft endeavours bend T’ outlhine each other. Dryden. 2. Imagination ; quicknefs of fancy. They never meet, butthere’s a Ikirmilh of wit between them.— —Alas, in our laft conflict four of his five wits went halting off, and now is the whole man govern’d by one. Shakefp. Lewd, fhallow, hair-brain’d huffs, make atheifm and con¬ tempt of religion, the only badge and character of wit. South, And though a tun in thy large bulk be writ Yet thou art but a kilderkin of wit. 30 T Dryden. Wit](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b30451541_0002_1138.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
