rare. [f. WISE a. + -NESS. Cf. OE. unwisnes.] The quality of being wise; wisdom; occas. ironical.

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c. 1320.  Cast. Love, 292. To vchone sunderlyng He ȝaf a dole of … his wysnesse.

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1387–8.  T. Usk, Test. Love, II. vi. (Skeat), l. 119. For his goodnesse and wysnesse wolt thou nat do him worship?

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1579.  E. K., Ded. to Spenser’s Sheph. Cal., § 1. His morall wisenesse.

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1602.  Shaks., Ham., V. i. 286. Yet haue I something in me dangerous, Which let thy wisenesse feare.

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1634.  Massinger, Very Woman, II. ii. Your wives wonderful wiseness.

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1796.  Mme. D’Arblay, Camilla, VII. viii. Which is a wiseness that does honour to her education.

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1820.  Coleridge, in Blackw. Mag., Sept., 629. This chilly, doubting, qualifying wiseness.

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1907.  Sat. Rev., 8 June, 702/2. This report is full of touches that illustrate his wiseness.

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  ¶  Right wiseness, erron. division of rightwiseness, RIGHTEOUSNESS.

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1447.  Shillingford Lett. (Camden), 134. Of your grete right wisnesse and speciall grace.

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1493.  Festivall (W. de W., 1515), 49. Come to this byleve by doynge of werkes of ryght wysenes.

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15[?].  New Notbroune Mayd, 172, in Hazl., E. P. P., III. 8. By ryght wysenes.

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1638.  Dial. on Laws of Eng., I. xv. 26 b. Truth in his word, & right wisenes in his deed.

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