1761. WIFE. A man's best fortune or his worst is his wife.
1762. WIFE. There is one good wife in the country, and every man thinks he hath her.
1763. WIFE (GOOD). A good wife makes a good husband.
A good wife and health Are a man's best wealth.
Saith Solomon the wise A good wife's a prize.
1766. WIFE (NEWS). He that tells his wife news is but newly married.
1767. WILD OATS. Happy is he who hath sown his wild oats betimes.
1768. WILES. Wise men are not caught by wiles.
1769. WILFUL. If wilful will to water, wilful must be drowned.
1770. WILFUL MAN. A wilful man never wants woe.
1772. WILL. They that cannot do as they will, must do as they can.
1773. WILL. Will without reason is blind.
1774. WILL NOT. If one will not, another will.
1775. WILL (READY). Where the will is ready, the feet are light.
1776. WILL (WAY). Where there's a will there's a way.
1777. WILLING HORSE. All lay load on the willing horse.
1778. WILLING MIND. Nothing is impossible to a willing mind.
1779. WILLOWS. Willows are weak, yet they bend other wood.
When the wind's in the north You need not go forth [_to fish_].
When the wind's in the east The fish will bite least.
When the wind's in the south The bait goes in their mouth.
When the wind's in the west The fish will bite best.
Where the wind is on Candlemas Day There it will stick to the end of May.
When the wind is in the east, 'Tis neither good for man nor beast.
1787. WIND (ILL). It's an ill wind that blows nobody good.
When the wind's in the south It's in the rain's mouth.
1790. WINDFALLS. None ever yet got fat on windfalls.
1791. WINDMILL. You cannot drive a windmill with a pair of bellows.
1792. WINE. More have been drowned in wine than water.
1794. WINE. Wine is the master's, but the goodness is the drawer's.
1795. WINE (GOOD). Good wine needs no bush.
1796. WINE (IN). When wine is in, wit is out.
1797. WINE (TURNCOAT). Wine is a turncoat, first a friend, then an enemy.
1799. WINK. A wink's as good as a nod to a blind horse.
1800. WINTER (GOOD). A good winter brings a good summer.
1801. WINTER. Winter finds out what summer lays up.
1802. WISDOM. By wisdom peace, by peace plenty.
1803. WISDOM. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
1804. WISDOM. Wisdom rides upon the ruins of folly.