Note 042
From Chapter 56 of the Decline & Fall

The Norman writers and editors most conversant with their own idiom interpret Guiscard or Wiscard, by Callidus, a cunning man. The root (wise) is familiar to our ear; and in the old word Wiseacre, I can discern something of a similar sense and termination.
Ancient Greek is no bad translation of the surname and character of Robert.

« LAST » Note « NEXT »