having or showing good judgment, experience, and knowledge
The old wise owl guided the young birds through the forest.
Asking for help was a wise decision.
✦ Old English wīs, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch wijs and German weise, meaning ‘knowledgeable, sensible’.
aware of or informed about something, especially a secret or dishonest plan
I'm wise to your tricks, so don't try them again.
She became wise to the scam after reading reviews online.
✦ Extension of the primary adjective sense, first recorded in the late 19th century in American English slang.
a device made of several pieces of iron or steel that fit into a specially shaped hole (called a dovetail) in a large stone block, used to lift it with a crane or hoist.
The construction workers fitted a lewis into the massive concrete block before attaching the crane.
Using two lewises, they hoisted the granite slab onto the top of the wall.
✦ Early 18th century; origin uncertain, possibly named after its inventor or from a personal name.
a male given name, originally from the French form of Louis, meaning 'renowned warrior'.
Our new baby boy will be called Lewis.
Lewis scored the winning goal in the match.
✦ From Old French Louis, from Medieval Latin Ludovicus, from Proto-Germanic *hlūdą ('fame') + *wīgą ('warrior').
