חכם

חָכַם(b. h.; v. חָכָם) 1) to be wise, to know. Nidd.70 מה יעשה אדם ויֶחְכַּם what must one do in order to be wise? 2) (denom. of חָכָם) to meet for deliberation. Ib. לכשיחיו נֶחְכַּם להן when they resurrect, we shall meet to discuss their case. Hif. הֶחְכִּים 1) to grow wise, to become a scholar. B. Bath.25b הרוצה שיַחְכִּים he who desires to become a scholar; ib. 175b (Ber.63b שיִתְחַכֵּם). Ab. II, 5 … לא כל … מַחְכִּים not every one that has a large trade, becomes wise (experienced); a. fr. 2) to make wise, to stimulate a persons mind by ingenious suggestions, questions Hag. 14a תלמיד המַחְכִּיםוכ׳ a student who enlightens his teachers. B. Mets. 107b ומַחְכִּימַת פתי and makes the simple wise. 3) to subtilize, philosophize. Ex. R. s. 6, beg. ה׳ על גזרתווכ׳ philosophized on (tried to find out the reasons for) the Lords law. Ib. מה שהייתי מַחְכִּיםוכ׳ when I philosophised … and made myself believe …, it was all vain boast Hithpa. הִתְחַכֵּם, Nithpa. נִתְחַכֵּם to become wise. Ber.63b, v. supra. B. Bath.25b מתוך שמִתְחַכֵּם מתעשר because by becoming wise, he will get rich. Pesik. R. s. 33 beg. מאליו נתח׳ became wise by his own speculation.