Category:Wiseacre

Wise"a*cre, n. Etym: [od. wijssegger or g. weissager a foreteller, Prophet, from weissagen to foretell, to prophesy, ohg. wissag, Corrupted (as if compounded of the words for wise and say) fr. Wizzag, fr. wizzag a prophet, akin to as. witiga, witga, from the Root of e. wit. See wit, v.]

1. A learned or wise man. [obs.] Pythagoras learned much. . . becoming a mighty wiseacre. Leland.

2. One who makes undue pretensions to wisdom; a would-be-wise person; Hence, in contempt, a simpleton; a dunce.