Wiseacre (wīz’ā’ker)

Although the word “acre” in “wiseacre” makes it appear that the term refers to a unit of measurement, "wiseacre" is actually used contemptuously to mean a wise guy or a smart aleck. The term comes from the Dutch “wijssegger” which means soothsayer. Since soothsayers were considered learned, it was logical to call them “wise,” which is what “wij” means. The word “acre” is a mispronunciation of the Durch “segger,” sayer. There is a famous story in which the word was used in its present sense. In response to the bragging landowner, English playwright Ben Jonson is said to have replied, “What care we for your dirt and clods? Where you have an acre of land, I have ten acres of wit.” The chastened landowner is reported to have muttered: “He’s a Mr. Wiseacre.”