worldwisdom
nounEtymology From Middle English *worldwisdom, (found only as worldes wisdom (literally “world's wisdom”)), from Old English woruldwīsdōm (“worldly wisdom, science”), equivalent to world + wisdom.
1
Wisdom, knowledge, or understanding about the world; experience; philosophy.
- In the Wessex labourer of today, who ploughs the field, walks the lonely heath, sits in his village inn and talks the Old Worldwisdom, he sees the same man who was there a hundred, five hundred, a thousand years ago.1996, R. G. Cox, Thomas Hardy: the critical heritage:
- Ælfric's words in these lives and his apologetic remarks on youngsters having to earn 'worldwisdom' are powerfully reminiscent of Augpstine's De doctrina Christiana: […]2006, Aelfric (Abbot of Eynsham.), Gabriella Corona, Saint Amphilochius (Bishop of Iconium), Ælfric's Life of Saint Basil the Great: background and context
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- After a few months, I come again to the record & it seems a mere bit of glistening tin or tinsel, and no such worldwisdom.2011, Ralph Waldo Emerson, William H. Gilman, Charles Johnson, Selected Writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson:
- Related terms
- worldwise