† skillwiseadj.
Obsolete.
1. absolute.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 33 Bot be the fruit may scilwis se, O quat vertu is ilka tre.
a. Intelligent, discerning, clever.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > intelligence, cleverness > [adjective]
keena1000
nimbleOE
wittya1100
smeighc1200
understandingc1200
aperta1330
skillwisea1340
witted1377
intelligiblea1382
well-feelinga1382
knowinga1398
finec1400
large?a1425
well-knowingc1425
of understanding1428
capax1432
sententiousc1440
well-wittedc1450
intellectual?a1475
clean1485
industriousc1487
intellective1509
cleanlyc1540
ingenious?a1560
fine-headed1574
conceited1579
conceitful1594
intelligenced1596
dexter1597
ingenuous1598
intelligent1598
senseful1598
parted1600
thinking1605
dexterical1607
solert1612
apprehensivea1616
dexterous1622
solertic1623
intelligential1646
callent1656
cunning1671
thoughtful1674
perceptive1696
clever1716
uptaking1756
spiritual1807
bright1815
gnostic1819
knowledgeable1825
brainy1845
opulent1851
opening1872
super-cerebral1916
brainiac1976
a1340 R. Rolle Psalter lvii. 11 A man þat is skilwise sall thynke þat it falles þaim not of chawnce.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 6528 If þai war þat tim sa vn-wise, Yeit er þai noght all skilwise.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 4677 Depe selers..thoru es aun scel-wis [Gött. witti] red, He fild wit wines.
b. Endowed with reason; rational.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > [adjective]
wittyc1300
reasonablec1350
skillwise1357
skilfulc1380
rationala1398
rationablec1480
reasonedc1487
logicala1652
1357 Lay Folks Catech. (T.) 12 He made skillwise creatures, angel and man.
1357 Lay Folks Catech. (T.) 330 To tham that he wate er of skill~wise elde.
2.
a. Just, equitable, fair.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > rightness or justice > [adjective] > fair or equitable
evenOE
skillwisea1300
leal1352
faira1387
mensurablea1398
equal1535
squarea1616
candid1643
equable1643
equitable1646
conscionable1647
a1300 Cursor Mundi 28781 Godd of heuen..es rightwise, & til alle men ilik skilwis.
b. Reasonable; not excessive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > moderateness of quantity, amount, or degree > [adjective]
evenlya1200
methefully?c1225
renable?1305
reasonablea1325
measurablec1330
skillwisea1340
moderatea1398
temperate1398
meetlya1400
measurablyc1450
rationablec1475
competent1535
midway1573
modest1582
sober1619
medious1657
slack1662
meeverly1819
low key1941
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > [adjective] > not excessive
skillwisea1340
reasonablec1400
sensible?a1439
rational1598
a1340 R. Rolle Psalter xxxvii. 11 When thai..entice him fra scilwis penaunce.
1357 Lay Folks Catech. (T.) 324 Bot if thai forbere it be skilwise cause.
c1400 Rule St. Benet 1435 And who so askes hir skilwis thyng, Sche sal not greue þam with groching.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1911; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
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adj.a1300