wiseacre

English

Etymology

a 1600, from Middle Dutch wijssegger (“soothsayer”), from Old High German wīzzago, wīzago (“wise man, prophet, soothsayer”), from Proto-Germanic *wītagô (“wise one; prophet”). Cognate with Old English wītega (“wise man, prophet”).

Noun

wiseacre (plural wiseacres)

  1. One who feigns knowledge or cleverness; one who is wisecracking; an insolent upstart.
  2. (obsolete) A learned or wise man.
    • Leland
      Pythagoras learned much […] becoming a mighty wiseacre.

Synonyms

Derived terms

  • wiseacring

Translations

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