Obs. Forms: 4–5 vise, 5 wyse, 5–6 vyse, 6 Sc. vyiss, wys. [Partly (1) aphetic f. of avise ADVISE v. or DEVISE v.: partly (2) a. OF. (mod.F.) viser:—pop.L. *visare, f. vīs-, ppl. stem of L. vidēre to see. Cf. VIZY v.1]
1. trans. To devise, contrive, make.
c. 1325. Song of Yesterday, 14, in E. E. P. (1862), 133. Þis day as leef we may be liht With alle þe murþes þat men may vise To reuele with þise buyrdes briht.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 4686. Ȝe vise ȝow þar-of [sc. gold] vessell for vanyte & pride. Ibid., 5651. Þe names of all þe prouynces & þe places þat he was prince ouire … ware visid all in versis in variant letters.
2. refl. To bethink oneself (well or better); = ADVISE v. 5.
a. 1330. Syr Degarre, 542. Nou I schal vise me bette.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xliii. (Cecile), 345. For-þi is gud ȝe wyse ȝu weile, or ȝe tyne al varldis sele.
a. 1400–50. Alexander (D.), 751. Þan ayres hym forth alexander & hys aynde takes…, wysez hym how he say wald or he aunswer ȝheldes.
a. 1500. in Ratis Raving, etc., 81. Thar ȝha is ȝhai, thar nay is nay, Thai wys thaim weill, ore at thai say.
a. 1568. ‘This Wardis joy,’ in Bannatyne MS. (Hunter. Cl.), 202. Dreid God, do weill;… Seik weill at weill, and vyiss the voundir weil.
b. trans. To think of as useful or necessary.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 126. Þen takis to him tresour & trusses in baggis,… And oþire necessari notis as nedis to his craftis, To sike salmary dangell as him self vyses.
3. To advise, counsel, direct (a person); = ADVISE v. 9.
a. 1529. Skelton, Replyc. agst. Yng. Scolers, 297. Therfore I vyse you to forsake Of heresy the deuyllysshe scoles.
a. 1553. Udall, Royster D., I. iv. (Arb.), 26. Well mocke muche of hir, and keepe hir well I vise ye.
1587. Mascall, Govt. Cattle, Horses (1600), 101. To trust all currant horse-coursers, I vise thee to beware.
b. With clause as object; = ADVISE v. 9 c.
1581. A. Hall, Iliad, V. 98. I am content answerd the God, but in your place I vise For better end, that Pallas she do take the enterprise.
4. intr. To look on (something).
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 1539. A vestoure to vise on of violet floures. Ibid., 3945. Þan come a fliȝtir in of fowls as fast as it dawid, To vise on as vowtres as vermeon hewid.
b. To reflect on; to consider, contemplate.
1568. T. Howell, Newe Sonets (1879), 118. Within whose troubled head, such thronge of thoughts doth rise, That now on this and then on that, I cease not oft to vise.
5. trans. To look at or regard attentively or closely; to observe. rare.
1550. Bale, Eng. Votaries, II. 88. She loked smothely vpon him (the storye sayth) and he as gentyllye vysed her agayne.
a. 1557. Abp. Parker, Ps. cxix. 352. Inure my hart; I purpose yet all whole thy lawes to vyse.
Hence † Vised ppl. a., = ADVISED ppl. a. 1; † Vising vbl. sb., advice, counsel.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxxvi. (Baptista), 496. Scho gluterit hyme rycht ofte With wysing fare & wordis softe.
1422. Yonge, trans. Secreta Secret., 130. Yf thou wolte largely lyue … thre thyngis thou moste beholde…. The thyrde that ye can be viside, and see the Services and Meritis of thy Subiectes.
