An example of wisdom is the quote "The best mind altering drug is truth."
- the quality of being wise; power of judging rightly and following the soundest course of action, based on knowledge, experience, understanding, etc.; good judgment; sagacity
- learning; knowledge; erudition: the wisdom of the ages
- wise discourse or teaching
- Wisdom of Solomon
- a wise plan or course of action
Origin of wisdomMiddle English ; from Old English ; from wis, wise + -dom, -dom
- The ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting; insight.
- Common sense; good judgment: “It is a characteristic of wisdom not to do desperate things” (Henry David Thoreau).
- a. The sum of learning through the ages; knowledge: “In those homely sayings was couched the collective wisdom of generations” (Maya Angelou).b. Wise teachings of the ancient sages.
- A wise outlook, plan, or course of action.
- Wisdom Bible Wisdom of Solomon.
Origin of wisdomMiddle English, from Old English w&imacron;sd&omacron;m; see weid- in Indo-European roots.
(countable and uncountable, plural wisdoms)
- (uncountable) An element of personal character that enables one to distinguish the wise from the unwise.
- (countable) A piece of wise advice.
- The discretionary use of knowledge for the greatest good.
- The ability to apply relevant knowledge in an insightful way, especially to different situations from that in which the knowledge was gained.
- The ability to make a decision based on the combination of knowledge, experience, and intuitive understanding.
- (theology) The ability to know and apply spiritual truths.
From Middle English wisdom, from Old English wÄ«sdÅm (“wisdom"), from Proto-Germanic *wÄ«sadÅmaz (“wisdom"), corresponding to wise +"Ž -dom or wise +"Ž doom (“judgement"). Cognate with Scots wisdom, wysdom (“wisdom"), West Frisian wiisdom (“wisdom"), Dutch wijsdom (“wisdom"), German Weistum (“legal sentence"), Danish/Norwegian/Swedish visdom (“wisdom"), Icelandic vÃsdÃ³mur (“wisdom").