Sideways and Clockwise

Sideways and Clockwise Sideways and Clockwise Sideways and Clockwise By Maeve Maddox A reader seeks to understand two uses of the English word wise: Can you please suggest how can  we use the word wise. The meaning of wise is related to wisdom (Having or prompted by wisdom or discernment).    But some times I use this when some thing needs to be done in a way. for e.g. day wise, company wise, team wise and so on. Old English had two similarly spelled words derived from the same ProtoGermanic source: wis: learned, wise wise: manner, way It also had two verbs from the same source: witan: to know wisian: to direct or to guide The word wise in the sense of manner survived in two suffix forms: -wise and -ways, giving us such words as always, sideways, likewise and otherwise. Heres Fowlers note on these suffixes: 1. The ending -ways or occasionally -way, is often used indifferently with -wise, is very seldom the only form without one in -wise by its sideperhaps only in always. 2. In a few established words, -wise is alone, esp. clockwise, coastwise, likewise, otherwise, sunwise. 3. In other established words both forms are used, as breadth-, broad-, end-, least-, length-, long-, no-, side-, slant-. 4. In words made for the occasion from nouns, as in Use it clubwise or pokerwise, Go crabwise or frogwise, Worn cloakwise or broochwise or chainwise . . , -wise is now much the commoner. Fowler was writing about 80 years ago, but his observations remain valid. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Redundant Phrases to AvoidEmpathy "With" or Empathy "For"?Mankind vs. Humankind