Meaning & use
wise man
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Meanings
nouncountable
A man who is respected for his good judgment, deep knowledge and ability to give sound advice.
Grammar: Plural is wise men: the village wise men.
Patterns
- a wise man once said
- ask a wise man
The villagers went to the wise man for advice about the drought.
A wise man listens more than he speaks.
He is known in the town as a wise man, and people seek his opinion.
nouncountablereligion
One of the three travelers from the East who, in the Christian story, brought gifts to the infant Jesus.
Grammar: Usually plural or capitalized in this sense: the Three Wise Men.
Patterns
- the three wise men
Children dressed as the three wise men in the school Nativity play.
The wise men followed a star to find the child.
A wise man carried gold to the stable in the picture.
Word forms
| plural | wise men |
|---|
Common combinations
- the three wise men
- The three wise men are a familiar part of Christmas cards.
- an old wise man
- An old wise man lived in the hills and was visited by many travelers.
- wise man's advice
- The wise man's advice saved the village from a costly mistake.
- a wise man once said
- A wise man once said that patience is bitter but its fruit is sweet.
- consult a wise man
- The king would often consult a wise man before important decisions.
Synonyms and how they differ
- sage
- Sage is more literary and carries a solemn tone, usually for a respected thinker, while wise man is plainer.
- elder
- Elder emphasizes age and community authority, while wise man emphasizes judgment, whatever the person's age.
- guru
- Guru is used for a spiritual teacher and often playfully for any expert, which is different from the general sense of wise man.
- Magus
- Magus is the Latin term for one of the Biblical travelers, and is formal and religious.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: wise man or wiseman? wise man or wise guy?
wise man vs wiseman
Wiseman is a surname, and the common noun is two words: wise man.
wise man vs wise guy
A wise guy is a cheeky, annoying person or a mobster in American slang, not a person of wisdom.
Practice
What does the phrase "the three wise men" refer to at Christmas?
Choose one answer.
The three wise men, or Magi, are the visitors who followed a star with gifts. The shepherds were a different group in the story.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “wise man”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.