Langimage
English

unwisely

|un-wise-ly|

B2

/ʌnˈwaɪzli/

(unwise)

lacking judgment

Base FormComparativeSuperlative
unwiseunwiserunwisest
Etymology
Etymology Information

'unwisely' originates from the Old English prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' and the word 'wise,' which comes from the Proto-Germanic 'wisaz,' meaning 'knowing.'

Historical Evolution

'unwise' changed from the Old English word 'unwīs' and eventually became the modern English word 'unwise.'

Meaning Changes

Initially, it meant 'not knowing or lacking wisdom,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.

Meanings by Part of Speech

Adverb 1

in a manner that lacks wisdom or good judgment.

He unwisely invested all his savings in a single venture.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:35