Worldly-wise

(stress variable), a. Wise in a worldly manner or in worldly affairs; transf. of actions or conduct. Also absol.

c. 1400.  26 Pol. Poems, i. 45. Worldly wys is gostly nys.

c. 1415.  Crowned King, 85. Þou most be worldly wys & ware þe be-tymes.

1540.  Coverdale, Fruitf. Less., To Rdr. (1593), ¶ 3 b. This is peraduenture laughed to scorne of the vnexpert, proud, worldly wise.

1562.  Pilkington, Expos. Abdyas, Ee ij. These Edomites … picked oute … the worldly wisest men, thei coulde finde to be their rulers.

1667.  [see prec.].

1753–4.  Richardson, Grandison, II. xiii. 97. It was now, in the worldly-wise way of thinking, become his interest to keep up the distance … between them.

1851.  Mrs. Browning, Casa Guidi Wind., I. 485. The friars with worldly-wise Keen sidelong glances.

1865.  Kingsley, Herew., iv. The lads … imposed on by the cynical and worldly-wise tone which their … uncle had assumed.

  b.  Worldly wiseman (cf. WISE MAN): a worldly wise man; now only with allusion to the character so named in Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress. So † worldly wiseling [-LING].

1591.  Lodge, Catharos (Hunter. Club), 22. Oh worldly wiseman, you are still entring into the marrow of matters.

1620.  Donne, Serm., Ps. cxliv. 15 (1640), 749. Not onely a worldly wiseman, but a Christian wiseman may reach out both hands, to both kinds of blessings,… spirituall and temporall.

1681.  H. More, Exp. Dan., Pref. 30. The worldly Wiselings who for coarse carnal ends decry all pretence to the understanding of Prophecies.

1821.  Blackw. Mag., VIII. 434.