Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Wad'sett, n. p. 1486(Scots Law.) A kind of pledge or mortgage.Wād'sett-er, n. p. 1486One who holds by wadsett.Wād'y, n. p. 1486A ravine through which a brook flows; the channel of a watercourse, which is dry except in the rainy season. Robinson.Wāe, n. p. 1486A wave. [Obs.] Spenser.Wā'fer, n. p. 1486A thin cake or leaf of flour and other ingredients. “The curious work in pastry, the fine cakes, wafers, and marchpanes.” Holland. A woman's oaths are wafers—break with making. B. Jon. 2. A thin…Wā'fer, v. t. p. 1486To seal or close with a wafer.Waf'fle, n. p. 1486A thin cake baked hard and rolled, or a soft indented cake baked in an iron utensil on coals.Waf'fle-ī'ron, n. p. 1486A utensil for baking waffles.Wāft, v. t. p. 1486To bear through a fluid or buoyant medium; to convey through water or air; as, a balloon was wafted over the channel. “A gentle wafting to immortal life.” Milton. Speed the soft intercourse from soul…Wāft, v. i. p. 1486To be moved or to pass in a buoyant medium; to float. And now the shouts waft near the citadel. Dryden.Wāft, n. p. 1486A current of wind. [Rare.] “One wide waft.” Thomson. 2. A signal made by moving something, as a flag, in the air. 3. An unpleasant flavor. [Obs. and rare.]Wāft'age, n. p. 1486Conveyance through a buoyant medium, as air or water; transportation; carriage. “Boats prepared for waftage to and fro.” Drayton.Wāft'er, n. p. 1486One who wafts. O Charon, Thou wafter of the soul to bliss or bane. Beau. & Fl. 2. A boat for passage. 3. A wafture. [Obs.]Wăft'ŭre, n. p. 1486The act of waving; wave-like motion. [Obs.] “An angry wafture of your hand.” Shak.Wāg, v. t. p. 1486To move one way and the other with quick turns; to shake to and fro; to move vibratingly; to cause to vibrate, as a part of the body; as, to wag the head. Every one that passeth thereby shall be…Wāg, v. i. p. 1486To move one way and the other; to be shaken to and fro; to vibrate. “Tremble and start at wagging of a straw.” Shak. The resty sieve wagged ne’er the more. Dryden. 2. To be in action or motion; to…Wāg, n. p. 1486A man full of sport and humor; a ludicrous fellow; a humorist; a wit. We wink at wags when they offend. Dryden. The counselor never pleaded without a piece of packthread in his hand, which he used to…Wāge, v. t. p. 1486To pledge; to hazard on the event of a contest; to stake; to bet; to lay; to wager; as, to wage a dollar. 2. To expose one's self to, as a risk; to incur, as a danger; to venture; to hazard. “To…Wāge, v. i. p. 1486To bind or pledge one's self; to engage. [Obs.]Wāge, n. p. 1486That which is staked or ventured; that for which one incurs risk or danger; prize; meed; gage. [Obs.] Spenser. 2. That for which one labors; meed; reward; stipulated payment for service performed…Wā'g'el, n. p. 1487See WAGGEL.Wā'ger, n. p. 1487Something deposited, laid, or hazarded, on the event of a contest or some unsettled question; a bet; a stake; a pledge. Besides these plates for horse-races, the wagers may be as the persons please.…Wā'ger, v. t. p. 1487To hazard on the issue of a contest, or on some question that is to be decided, or on some casualty; to lay; to bet. “And wagered with him pieces of gold.” Shak.Wā'ger, v. i. p. 1487To make a bet; to lay a wager. 'Twas merry when you wagered on your angling. Shak.Wā'ger-er, n. p. 1487One who wages, or lays a bet.Wā'ger-ing, p. a. p. 1487Hazarding; pertaining to that which is hazarded. Wagering policy (Com.), a policy of insurance, insuring a sum of money when no property is at hazard; as a policy to insure money on a ship when no…Wā'ges, n. p. 1487A compensation given to a hired person for his or her services. See WAGE.Wāg'gel, n. p. 1487(Ornith.) The young of the great black-backed gull (Larus marinus), formerly considered a distinct species, and called Larus nævius. [Written also wagel.] Jardine.Wāg'ger-y, n. p. 1487The manner or action of a wag; mischievous merriment; sportive trick or gayety; sarcasm in good humor; pleasantry; as, the waggery of a school-boy.Wāg'gish, n. p. 1487Like a wag; mischievous in sport; roguish in merriment or good humor; frolicsome. “A company of waggish boys.” D'Estrange. 2. Done, made, or laid in waggery or for sport; as, a waggish trick.Wāg'gish-ly, adv. p. 1487In a waggish manner; in sport.Wāg'gish-ness, n. p. 1487State or quality of being waggish; mischievous sport; frolicsome merriment.Wāg'gle, v. i. p. 1487To reel or move from side to side; to waddle. Why do you go nodding and waggling so? D'Estrange.Wāg'gle, v. t. p. 1487To move one way and the other; to wag; as, a bird waggles his tail.Wāg'-hāl/ter, n. p. 1487One who moves or wears a halter; — a comic term coined to suit a thief, or such personage. [Obs.] I can tell you, I am a mad wag-halter. Marston.Wāg'ner-ite, n. p. 1487(Min.) A phosphate of magnesia, resembling the Brazilian topaz. Paine.Wāg'on, n. p. 1487A wheeled carriage; a vehicle on four wheels, and usually drawn by horses; especially, one used for carrying freight. ☞ In the U. S., light wagons are used for the conveyance of persons, and for…Wāg'on, v. t. p. 1487To transport in a wagon; as goods are wagoned from London to the interior.Wāg'on, v. t. p. 1487To practice the transportation of goods in a wagon; as, the man wagons between Philadelphia and Pittsburg.Wāg'on-a'ge, n. p. 1487Money paid for carriage in a wagon.Wāg'on-boil'er, n. p. 1487A form of steam-boiler introduced by Watt, having a semi-cylindrical top, the ends and sides being vertical, and the bottom flat, or, as improved, having the sides and bottom slightly curved inwardly.Wāg'on-er, n. p. 1487One who conducts a wagon; a wagon-driver. 2. (Astron.) A constellation; Charles's Wain; Ursa Major.Wāg'on-ëtte', n. p. 1487A peculiar kind of wagon or carriage designed to carry six or eight persons. Simmonds.Wāg'on-ful, n. p. 1487As much as aWăg'on-hēad'ed, a. p. 1487Having a top or head shaped like the top of a covered wagon, or resembling in section or outline an inverted U, thus, n.Wāg'on-mās'ter, n. p. 1487An officer or person in charge of one or more wagons, especially of those used for transporting freight, as the supplies of an army, and the like.Wăg'on-rōofed, a. p. 1487Having a roof or top shaped like an inverted u; wagon-headed.Wăg'on-ry, n. p. 1487Conveyance by means of a wagon or wagons; wagonage. [Obs.] Milton.Wāg'on-wright, n. p. 1487A maker of wagons.Wăg′tāil, n. p. 1487(Ornith.) A small bird, of several species, belonging to the genus Motacilla, and so named from the incessant motion of its long tail.Wā-hā'bee, n. p. 1487A follower of Abdel Wahab, a reformer of Mohammedanism, about 1760. His doctrines prevail particularly among the Bedouins, and the sect, though checked in its influence, extends to most parts of…Wāid, n. p. 1487Oppressed with weight; crushed. [Obs.] Shak.Waif, n. p. 1487(Eng. Law.) Goods found of which the owner is not known. These were originally such goods as a thief, when pursued, threw away to prevent being apprehended. They belong to the king unless the owner…Wāift, n. p. 1487A waif. [Obs.] Spenser.Wāil, v. t. p. 1487To lament; to moan; to bewail; to grieve over. “Or if no more her absent lord she wails.” Pope.Wāil, v. i. p. 1487To express sorrow audibly; to lament; to weep. Therefore I will wail and howl. Micah i. 8.Wāil, n. p. 1487Loud weeping; violent lamentation.Wāil, v. t. p. 1487To choose; to select; to cull. [Obs. and rare.] “Wailed wine and meats.” Chaucer.Wāil'er, n. p. 1487One who wails or laments.Wāil'er-ess, n. p. 1487A female who wails. [Obs.]