GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Found 3 definitions
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Wait , v. i. [imp. & p. p. Waited; p. pr. & vb. n. Waiting.] [OE. waiten, OF. waitier, gaitier, to watch, attend, F. guetter to watch, to wait for, fr. OHG. wahta a guard, watch, G. wacht, from OHG. wahhēn to watch, be awake. √134. See Wake, v. i.]1913 Webster
- To watch; to observe; to take notice. [Obs.]1913 Webster
“But [unless] ye wait well and be privy,
I wot right well, I am but dead,” quoth she.Chaucer.1913 Webster - To stay or rest in expectation; to stop or remain stationary till the arrival of some person or event; to rest in patience; to stay; not to depart.1913 Webster
All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.
Job xiv. 14.1913 WebsterThey also serve who only stand and wait.
Milton.1913 WebsterHaste, my dear father; 't is no time to wait.
Dryden.1913 Webster1913 WebsterTo wait on or To wait upon. (a) To attend, as a servant; to perform services for; as, to wait on a gentleman; to wait on the table. “Authority and reason on her wait.” Milton. “I must wait on myself, must I?” Shak. (b) To attend; to go to see; to visit on business or for ceremony. (c) To follow, as a consequence; to await. “That ruin that waits on such a supine temper.” Dr. H. More. (d) To look watchfully at; to follow with the eye; to watch. [R.] “It is a point of cunning to wait upon him with whom you speak with your eye.” Bacon. (e) To attend to; to perform. “Aaron and his sons . . . shall wait on their priest's office.” Num. iii. 10. (f) (Falconry) To fly above its master, waiting till game is sprung; -- said of a hawk. Encyc. Brit.
1913 Webster
- To watch; to observe; to take notice. [Obs.]
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Wait , v. t.
- To stay for; to rest or remain stationary in expectation of; to await; as, to wait orders.1913 Webster
Awed with these words, in camps they still abide,
And wait with longing looks their promised guide.Dryden.1913 Webster - To attend as a consequence; to follow upon; to accompany; to await. [Obs.]1913 Webster
- To attend on; to accompany; especially, to attend with ceremony or respect. [Obs.]1913 Webster
He chose a thousand horse, the flower of all
His warlike troops, to wait the funeral.Dryden.1913 WebsterRemorse and heaviness of heart shall wait thee,
And everlasting anguish be thy portion.Rowe.1913 Webster - To cause to wait; to defer; to postpone; -- said of a meal; as, to wait dinner. [Colloq.]1913 Webster
- To stay for; to rest or remain stationary in expectation of; to await; as, to wait orders.
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Wait, n. [OF. waite, guaite, gaite, F. guet watch, watching, guard, from OHG. wahta. See Wait, v. i.]1913 Webster
- The act of waiting; a delay; a halt.1913 Webster
There is a wait of three hours at the border Mexican town of El Paso.
S. B. Griffin.1913 Webster - Ambush. “An enemy in wait.” Milton.1913 Webster
- One who watches; a watchman. [Obs.]1913 Webster
- pl. Hautboys, or oboes, played by town musicians; not used in the singular. [Obs.]Halliwell.1913 Webster
- pl. Musicians who sing or play at night or in the early morning, especially at Christmas time; serenaders; musical watchmen. [Written formerly wayghtes.]1913 Webster
Hark! are the waits abroad?
Beau. & Fl.1913 WebsterThe sound of the waits, rude as may be their minstrelsy, breaks upon the mild watches of a winter night with the effect of perfect harmony.
W. Irving.1913 WebsterTo lay wait, to prepare an ambuscade. -- To lie in wait. See under 4th Lie.
1913 Webster
- The act of waiting; a delay; a halt.