חָכַם (b. h.; v. חָכָם) 1) to be wise, to know. Nidd. 70ᵇ 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 person’s mind by ingenious suggestions, questions &c. Ḥag. 14ᵃ תלמיד המַחְכִּים וכ׳ 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 גזרתו וכ׳ philosophized on (tried to find out the reasons for) the Lord’s law. Ib. מה שהייתי מַחְכִּים וכ׳ when I philosophised … and made myself believe …, it was all vain boast &c.
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.