jan 1, 1693 - wiseman, wise woman

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Although both words might be taken at face value, they more frequently referred to individuals with supposed occult skills, and were used especially of people who might heal sick animals or locate missing objects. 1567 <i>Robt Garmann parochie de Lowdame ... is commonly reputed to be a wiseman or sorceror ... he hayth healed beastes beinge forspoken</i> (PTD199); 1598 <i>he sent to one Haigh widdowe or widdowe Carr of Darfield reputed wise women to knowe a remedy for his sicknes</i>, Darton (PTD200); 1657 <i>Francis Metcalffe of Stanningley Greene, wiseman </i>(QS4/5/69); 1693 <i>William Beever whoe the common people call a wise man ... can tell where to finde things that are lost ... by a booke whiche he calls an alminacke</i>, Silkstone (QS1). In a court case reported in the <i>Doncaster Gazette</i> of 1 July, 1834, John Crossley and his wife denied consulting a ‘cunning’ man or a wise man.

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