WISEACRE

wiseacre. Wiseacre, n. a foolish fellow, simpleton, dunce

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Wise″a‐cre (?), n. [[OD. wijssegger or G. weissager a foreteller, prophet, from weissagen to foretell, to prophesy, OHG. wīssag�n, corrupted (as if compounded of the words for wise and say) fr. wīzzag�n, fr. wīzzag� a prophet, akin to AS. wītiga, wītga, from the root of E. wit. See Wit, v.]] 1. 1. A learned or wise man.
Pythagoras learned much . . . becoming a mighty wiseacre. Leland. 2. 2. One who makes undue pretensions to wisdom; a would-be-wise person; hence, in contempt, a simpleton; a dunce.