In a manner that is even or equal; fairly or impartially.
From Old English 'efen' (even) plus 'wise' (manner or direction, from Proto-Germanic 'wisaz'). The compound was productive in Middle English for creating adverbs describing manner.
The '-wise' suffix originally meant 'direction' or 'manner' (as in 'clockwise' or 'likewise'), and medieval English writers loved using it to create adverbs—though most have fallen out of use, leaving only modern adverbs like 'otherwise' and 'likewise.'
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