Origin and history of circle-wise

c. 1300, "figure of a circle, a plane figure whose periphery is everywhere equidistant from its center point," from Old French cercle "circle, ring (for the finger); hoop of a helmet or barrel" (12c.), from Latin circulus "circular figure; small ring, hoop; circular orbit" (also source of Italian cerchio), diminutive of circus "ring" (see circus).

Replaced Old English trendel and hring. Late Old English used circul, from Latin, but only in an astronomical sense. Also used of things felt to be analogous to a circle: The meaning "group of persons surrounding a center of interest" is from 1714 (it also was a secondary sense of Latin circulus); that of "coterie" is from 1640s (a sense also found in Latin circulus).

To come full circle is in Shakespeare. Sense in logic, "inconclusive argument in which unproved statements are used to prove each other" is from 1640s. Meaning "dark mark around or beneath the eyes" is from 1848.

"having the power of judging or discerning rightly," Old English wis "learned, sagacious, cunning; sane; prudent, discreet; experienced, practically knowing;" from Proto-Germanic *wissaz, reconstructed to be from past-participle adjective *wittos of PIE root *weid- "to see" (hence "to know;" compare wise (n.)).

The word is related to the source of Old English witan "to know, be aware of" (see wit (v.)). In Middle English also used in reference to a trade or craft, to warfare; an animal good at tracking by scent was wise of nese. Germanic cognates include Old Saxon, Old Frisian wis, Old Norse viss, Dutch wijs, German weise "wise."

The modern slang meaning "aware, cunning" is attested by 1896.

A wise man has no extensive knowledge; He who has extensive knowledge is not a wise man. [Lao-tzu, "Tao te Ching," c. 550 B.C.E.]

Wise man "man of good discernment" was in Old English; wise guy is attested from 1896, American English, ironic, "know-it-all; maker of wisecracks." Wise-ass (n.) is by 1966, American English (probably a literal sense is intended by the phrase in the 1607 comedy "Westward Hoe" by Dekker and Webster).

As a noun, "persons endowed with reason or prudence," by c. 1200. The use in phrases such as none or never the wiser la by late 14c. (lytel am I þe wyser).

Wisenheimer, with mock German or Yiddish surname suffix is by 1900 (it also is an actual surname).