Iwis

Alternative forms

• ywis 13th-17th centuries
• iwys 14th-16th centuries

Origin

From Middle English iwis, ywis ("certain, sure"), from Old English Ä¡ewiss ("certain, sure"), from Proto-Germanic *gawissaz ("known, certain, sure"), from Proto-Indo-European *weyd- ("to know"). Cognate with Dutch gewis ("sure"), German gewiss ("certain"), Danish vis ("sure"). More at wit, wis.

Full definition of iwis

Adverb

1. (poetic, archaic) Certainly, surely, indeed.
• 1890, James Russell Lowell, Poetical Works:God vanished long ago, iwis, A mere subjective synthesis
• 1842, Thomas Macaulay, Horatius:Iwis, in all the Senate
  There was no heart so bold ...
• 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book V:Thou art welcome iwys, for thou sekyst aftir sorow!