Wise"a*cre (?), n. [OD. wijssegger or G. weissager a foreteller, prophet, from weissagen to foretell, to prophesy, OHG. wissagn, corrupted (as if compounded of the words for wise and say) fr. wizzagn, fr. wizzag a prophet, akin to AS. witiga, witga, from the root of E. wit. See Wit, v.]
1.
A learned or wise man.
[Obs.]
Pythagoras learned much . . . becoming a mighty wiseacre.
Leland.
2.
One who makes undue pretensions to wisdom; a would-be-wise person; hence, in contempt, a simpleton; a dunce.
© Webster 1913.