An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/weis

by Friedrich Kluge

weis, adjective, in einem, etwas weis machen, ‘to make one believe, hoax a person,’ from Old High German, late Middle High German einen wîs machen, ‘to inform a person, instruct him’ (in Modern High German in an ironical sense). Compare Middle High German and Old High German wîs tuon, ‘to inform, instruct.’ Allied to weise, adjective, ‘wise, prudent, cunning,’ From Middle High German and Old High German wîs (also Middle High German wîse, Old High German wîsi), adjective, ‘intelligible, experienced, acquainted with, learned, wise.’ A common Teutonic adjective; compare Gothic weis, ‘knowing,’ Old Saxon and Anglo-Saxon wîs, ‘wise, knowing,’ English wise, Dutch wijs. The primary form of the word was a verbal adjective from wissen (wîso- for wîtto-). Allied to the following word.