Newswise
Part of speech: adverb
Definitions
- Referring to matters or information specifically within the field of journalism or media coverage
- Relating to the significance or impact of reporting and news broadcasting
- Concerning the perspective or viewpoint that arises from news reporting and its relevance
Etymology: The adverb in question is formed by combining the noun "news" with the suffix "-wise," which is used to create adverbs that mean "in the manner of" or "with respect to" the root word. The suffix "-wise" itself originates from Old English "wīs," meaning "manner" or "way," and has been productive in English since at least the Middle Ages for forming adverbs like "clockwise" or "otherwise." "News" entered English in the late 14th century as a plural form of "new," signifying new information or reports of recent events. Over time, "news" became a mass noun representing the medium or content of current affairs, rather than just individual pieces of new information. Putting these together, "newswise" functions as an adverb meaning "with regard to news" or "in terms of news." Its usage is relatively modern and somewhat informal, often found in journalistic or media-related contexts where one wants to specify the perspective or aspect concerning news matters. This formation fits a pattern of English adverbs created by attaching "-wise" to nouns to indicate the domain or scope being referenced. While the suffix has Old English roots, the specific combination with "news" likely arose in the 20th century as the concept of "news" as a constant, mass-mediated phenomenon became central to public discourse. Thus, the term neatly encapsulates a way of speaking that signals focus on the news dimension of a topic, made possible by a straightforward morphological process that blends an ancient suffix with a relatively modern noun.
Synonyms: regarding news, news-wise, in terms of news