Obs. Also 4 wys. [Usually in inflected form wisse, wysse: absol. use of OE. wis(s adj. certain, in advb. phr. (see below). Cf. IWIS C.] Phr. to wis(se), OE. tó wissum (for *tó (ʓe)wissum þinge), mid wisse, occas. in wis: of a certainty, for certain. (Cf. WIS adv.)
c. 1000. Ælfric, Saints’ Lives, xvii. 174. Ac wite ʓe to wissan þæt se wælhreowa deofol ne mæʓ mannum derian.
a. 1100. Aldhelm Gloss., I. 420 (Napier 13/1), Præsertim, i. maxime, vel to wissan. Ibid., 1051 (29/1), Profecto, i. omnino, to wissum.
a. 1200. Moral Ode, 236. Nute hi hweþer hom deþ wurs mid [v.r. to] neure nane wisse.
c. 1200. Ormin, 8460. Godess enngell comm himm to & seȝȝde himm þa to wisse Whillc ende off Issraæless land He shollde þanne sekenn.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 25. Ac sunderlepes he is here fader mid wisse.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 1515. Oc god him sente reed in wis Ðat he bilef in gerasis.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 120. Y knowe him wel to wisse. Ibid., 3763. Ther is non of ȝow þat wot to wys Wather he ys quyke or ded.
