Dictionary entry

Wiseacre

Webster's Dictionary 1913

Wise″a‐cre (?), n. [OD. wijssegger or G. weissager a foreteller, prophet, from weissagen to foretell, to prophesy, OHG. wīssag�n, corrupted (as if compounded of the words for wise and say) fr. wīzzag�n, fr. wīzzag� a prophet, akin to AS. wītiga, wītga, from the root of E. wit. See Wit, v.]

1. A learned or wise man.

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.