Unwise
/ʌnˈwaɪz/noun
Lacking good judgment or showing poor judgment.
Did you know?The prefix **un-** is one of English’s oldest negators, and in words like *unwise* it doesn’t add mystery so much as it strips away the protective force of wisdom itself.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*weid-
“to see, know”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*wīsaz
“wise, knowing”
Old English
OE
unwīs
“foolish, ignorant”
Middle English
ME
unwise
“lacking wisdom; imprudent”
Modern English
English
unwise
“showing poor judgment or lack of prudence”