English Explanatory Dictionary

wiseacre

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. One who feigns knowledge or cleverness; one who is wisecracking; an insolent upstart.
  2. A learned or wise man.
verb
  1. To act like a wiseacre; to wisecrack.

Pronunciation

/ˈwaɪzeɪkə(ɹ)/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-wiseacre.wav

Word forms

wiseacre wiseacres wiseacring wiseacred

Etymology

From Middle Dutch wijssegger (“soothsayer”), from Old High German wīzzago, wīzago (“wise man, prophet, soothsayer”), from Proto-West Germanic *wītagō (“wise one; prophet”). Cognate with Old English wītga (“wise man, prophet”). See also German Weissager (“soothsayer, seer”).

Synonyms

Buddha clever clogs clever dick know-all know-it-all smart aleck smart ass smarty smarty pants wiseacre wiseass wise-ass wisenheimer
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