wisdom

wis·dom

noun \ˈwiz-dəm\

Definition of WISDOM

1

a : accumulated philosophic or scientific learning : knowledge

b : ability to discern inner qualities and relationships : insight

c : good sense : judgment

d : generally accepted belief <challenges what has become accepted wisdom among many historians — Robert Darnton>

2

: a wise attitude, belief, or course of action

3

: the teachings of the ancient wise men

Examples of WISDOM

1. She has gained a lot of wisdom over the years.
2. a young person of great wisdom
3. He had the wisdom to stop before he said too much.
4. I fail to see the wisdom in doing that.
5. He shared a valuable bit of wisdom with his daughter.
6. These stories offer plenty of wisdom to readers.

Origin of WISDOM

Middle English, from Old English wīsdōm, from wīs wise

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to WISDOM

Synonyms

discernment, insight, perception, perceptiveness, perceptivity, sagaciousness, sagacity, sageness, sapience

Antonyms

imprudence, indiscretion

Related Words

acuity, acumen, astuteness, clear-sightedness, keenness, penetration, percipience, perspicacity, sensitivity, understanding; appreciation, apprehension, comprehension, grasp; brain(s), braininess, brightness, brilliance, canniness, cleverness, gray matter, intellect, intelligence, judgment (or judgement), mentality, power, reason, sense, smartness, wit; discrimination, foresight, foresightedness, judiciousness, prudence, sanity; logic, rationality

Near Antonyms

density, dullness (also dulness), obtuseness; brainlessness, folly, foolishness, idiocy, imbecility, mindlessness, silliness, simplemindedness, simpleness, stupidity, witlessness; illogic, irrationality, unreasonableness, unsoundness; craziness, insanity, lunacy, madness; preposterousness, senselessness, silliness, zaniness

See Synonym Discussion at sense

Wisdom

noun

Definition of WISDOM

: a didactic book included in the Roman Catholic canon of the Old Testament and corresponding to the Wisdom of Solomon in the Protestant Apocrypha — see bible table

First Known Use of WISDOM

circa 1440

Other Bible Terms

antediluvian, apocalyptic, apocrypha, behemoth