vbl. sb. Obs. [f. WIS v.1 + -ING1.] The action of WIS v.1, in various senses.
1. Guidance, direction, instruction.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Pastoral Epist., xx. in Ags. Laws (Thorpe), II. 370. Hi ealle þa lare þe we leorniað on bocum awriton and ʓesetton be Godes aʓenre wissunge.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 95. Þe man þe … sheweð preste his sinnes … nimeð þerof god wissinge. Ibid., 99. Bi shriftes wissenge.
c. 1200. Ormin, 11830. Uss birrþ sone þannkenn himm Hiss wissinng & hiss lare.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XI. 58. By wissynge of þis wenche I wrouȝte.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 8151. This wot I full well, thurgh wisshyng of hom.
1493. [H. Parker], Dives & Pauper, I. xviii. B viij/2. To gouerne them selfe … by the lyght and wyssynge of tyme.
1670. Narborough, Jrnl., in Acc. Sev. Late Voy., I. (1694), 79. I called them The Islands of Direction; they are good wishing to fall with the Mouth of the Streight.
b. Leading astray, enticement. (Cf. WISE v.1 1.)
1357. Lay Folks Catech. (T.), 542. Idelnesse is … witter wissyng and wai till alkyns vices.
c. Conduction, conveyance. Also concr. a conduit.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 11942. Þe water wissing gan he ditt, Þat water to þe lak broght.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 1606. The water by wisshyng went vnder houses.
2. Command, ordinance; rule, government.
c. 1000. Ælfric, in Assmann, Ags. Hom. (1889), 39. Þa munecas, þe … gode þeowiað under abbodes wissunge æfter þam reʓole.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 73. Hit wes iloked bi godes wissunge ine halie chirche.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 190. As al þe world is iwald þurh his wissunge.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alex., 3256. Þe wyssyng of þe wale god þat wist all before.
