| 释义 |
▪ I. wait, n.|weɪt|
Forms: 3–7 wayte, waite, (5 wayet, whayte), 4–7 wayt, 4, 7 weyte, (6 weytte, wette), 5–6 wate, (5 watte), 6 waytte (waitte, wayght, weyght, wyethe, whet), 7 waight, (weight), 4– wait.
[Partly a. ONF. *wait, wet masc. (= OF. guait, gait, guet, mod.F. guet, Pr. gach, gait), vbl. noun f. waitier (see wait v.) and ONF. waite fem. (OF. guaite, gaite, mod.F. guette, guète, Pr. gacha, gaita); it is uncertain whether the fem. n. is f. the vb., or a direct adoption from Teut. (cf. OHG. wahta, Goth. wahtwō): see wait v. The word adopted from Fr. has coalesced with an Eng. formation on wait v. Cf. await n.
Many apparent examples of this word in texts of 14–16th c. really belong to the synonymous await n., which, like other words beginning with a prefix, was often written as two words. It is possible that the a was in the 16th c. sometimes apprehended by writers and readers as the indefinite article, but distinct evidence of this is wanting.]
I. The action of wait v.1
1. In various phrases with the general sense: To take up a concealed position in order to make an unforeseen attack, or to be in readiness to intercept one's enemy or intended prey in passing; to lurk in ambush.
†a. to sit in wait(s. Obs. rare. (cf. await n.)
a1300E.E. Psalter ix. 29 He sites in waites [Vulg. in insidiis] with riche of land In derne, to sla þe vnderand. 1667Milton P.L. iv. 825 Why satst thou like an enemie in waite Here watching at the head of these that sleep?
b. to lie (or † lay) in wait. † Also, to lie at (the) wait, to lie on wait.
c1440Pallad. on Husb. iv. 157 For moldywarpes cattes is to kepe To ligge in wayte to touche hem with her cle. c1449Pecock Repr. i. xix. 113 As if perauenture in oon of thilk weies a man liggith in wait for to sle my seid seruaunt. 1450–1530Myrr. our Ladye 311 The faythful saynge of the crede chaseth away fendes whiche lye on wayte to hynder men. 1503–4Act 19 Hen. VII, c. 36 Preamb., Stanhop..lay in wayte uppon the seid sir William and hym grevously wouneded. 1530Palsgr. 605/2, I ley in wayte of one to do him a displeasure. a1578Lindesay (Pitscottie) Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.) I. 31 Or evir he cuild persawe the chancellaris folkis lyand in the wait for him he was invironit and circuatt round about with thame. 1611Bible Ps. x. 9 He lieth in waite secretly as a lyon on his denne, he lieth in wait to catch the poore. 1668H. Rolle Abridgm., Action sur Case 50 Si home dit dun auter, que il lay in wait at shooters hill to rob him, action sur le case gist. a1672Wood Life Sept. (O.H.S.) I. 123 Some of their partie were upon London road neare Thame to lay in wait for provision or wine that came from London towards Aylesbury. 1709Steele Tatler No. 34 ⁋5 The five Fields where the Robbers lie in wait. 1794Mrs. Radcliffe Myst. Udolpho xxviii, His friend advised that they should lie in wait for the enemy. 1879Cassell's Techn. Educ. IV. 95/2 Full of rage, he lay in wait for Rosen, and as the latter left the Senate, he rushed upon his sword in hand. 1904Lady M. Verney Verney Mem. II. 341 Lying in wait for dowagers' coaches in tortuous lanes.
fig.1500–20Dunbar Poems xxi. 34 May no man lang in welth indure, For wo that evir lyis at the wait. 1553Gresham in Burgon Life (1839) I. 118 To the intent to prevent the marchaunts, bothe strangers and Englishe, who allwayes lay in wayte to prevent my devisses. a1613Overbury Characters, Meere Fellow Wks. (1856) 129 His religion lies in wait for the inclination of his patron. 1704Swift T. Tub ii, A ring of disciples, who lie in wait to catch up their droppings. 1784Cowper Task iii. 553 Ten thousand dangers lie in wait to thwart The process. 1785T. Balguy Disc. 47 He is constantly lying at wait to correct them. 1791C. Smith Celestina III. 212 He..had indeed no other design than to lay in wait for traces of that involved mystery. 1865Dickens Mut. Fr. ii. i, The habit..had given him a suspicious manner, or a manner that would be better described as one of lying in wait.
†c. to lie wait. Obs. rare.
1445in Anglia XXVIII. 269 Ambicion..which evir lyeth waite at chambir dorys. a1578Lindesay (Pitscottie) Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.) I. 55 Thair followit na thing bot slaughter.., ilk ane lyand wait for wther as they had ben settand tinchellis for the murther of wyld beistes.
d. to lay wait, † lay one's wait.
1577Hanmer Anc. Eccl. Hist., Euseb. x. viii. 206 But God being the friend..of Constantinus brought to light the wayte layde for him in secret. 1586Thynne Contn. Ann. Scot. 457/1 in Holinshed, But, hauing wait laid for him by an ambush of his enimies, he was in his iorneie towards his castell intercepted. 1597Beard Theatre God's Judgem. (1612) 333 Wherefore they layed wait for him as hee came one day from hunting, and murdered him. 1653J. Mayer Expos. Ps. xxxi. 4 When wait was layd for him to kill him in his house. 1665Manley Grotius' Low-C. Wars 169 Although they could escape all the wait laid for them by Pirates. 1841James Brigand iii, They were known to lay wait in all the principal passes, both of Piedmont and Savoy.
transf. and fig.1535Coverdale Acts xx. 19, I haue..serued y⊇ Lorde..with many teares and tentacions, which happened vnto me by y⊇ layenges of wayte of the Iewes. 1599T. Storer Life & D. Wolsey G 2 b, Those vnbaptised sacrilegious hands, That onely for Gods vestrie laide their waite. 1611Bible Jer. ix. 8 One speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in heart he layeth his waite. 1755Monitor I. 27 Can a free constitution be out of danger, where one part of it lays wait to destroy the energy of another? 1799E. Du Bois Piece Family Biog. II. 42 By laying wait for a favourable moment, she might ultimately obtain the enjoyment of her criminal passion. 1891Sat. Rev. 14 Nov. 563/2 Their..followers laid perpetual wait to steal.
†e. to take under wait: to capture or surprise by an ambush. Obs.
1533Bellenden Livy (S.T.S.) I. 180 Þai war na less astonist þan þai had bene tane vnder wait [haud secus quam si in insidias incidissent].
† f. The n. used without the phrasal context: Ambush. Obs. rare.
1533Bellenden Livy (S.T.S.) I. 149 Als sone as hermyneus herde the noyis of Valerius cumpany, he Ischit with his buschement haistely fra þe wate [concurrit ex insidiis]. 1788Burns Written in Friars-Carse Hermitage 20 Check thy climbing step, elate, Evils lurk in felon wait. 1796F. Burney Camilla IV. 375 He was..always in wait to converse with her when she was seated.
†2. The action of watching. Obs.
a. In phrases. at (the) wait, on the watch. to do wait, make wait, to keep watch. to have in wait, to have under observation. Also, to lie in great wait, lay good wait (cf. 1), to be carefully on the watch.
c1440Partenope 6745 (B. M. MS.) His ffrendes had hym so in watte..That his purpose myght not be Atte Bleys parfouremed. c1460in Archæologia XXIX. 339 Þe Fisshe drewe nere vnto þe bayte; Nede haþe no lawe,..þe Egle þerto euer layde goode wayte. c1470Henry Wallace x. 379 A suttell knycht tharat had gret despyt, Folowyt at wait. 1500–20Dunbar Poems xlii. 21 And in thir termis can thai say, Do wait, and lat him nocht away. 1509Fisher Funeral Serm. C'tess Richmond Wks. (1876) 293 Her sobre temperaunce..wherin she lay in as grete wayte of herself as ony persone myght. 1513Douglas æneis xi. xiv. 83 Quhen as ane Aruns, by hys mortal fait Onto myschewos deid predestinate, Circulis at the wayt. c1520Everyman (facs.) B j, I haue a great enemy that hath me in wayte Whiche intendeth me for to hyndre. 1523Ld. Berners Froiss. I. ccxli. 144/2 The moost parte of the state of the prince..was well knowen with the kynges there about..for they layed great wayte to knowe it. 1535Hen. VIII in Strype Eccl. Mem. 1721 I. App. liv. 141 That they..do make & cause to be made diligent search, wait & espyal, whether the said Bps. & Clergy do..execute..their said charge.
b. Watchfulness.
1575Laneham Let. (1871) 18 It waz a sport very pleazaunt..to see..the nimblness and wayt of the dog too take hiz auauntage.
3. a. (day's) wait: the duty of keeping guard by day performed by the warders of the Tower.
1694E. Chamberlayne Pres. St. Eng. iii. 608 The Yeoman Warders of the Tower are 40 in number... Ten of them are usually upon the Days-wait. 1738–47in Pegge Curialia iii. (1791) 103 When the Man waiting for another hath performed such Wait, he shall not be permitted to wait again, so as to continue his Wait for divers Men one after another.
b. The period of attendance at court of a lord- or lady-in-waiting.
1884World 20 Aug. 10/1 The Queen always likes the yearly rota of waits to be arranged so that her favourite ladies shall be with her at Balmoral. 1893Westm. Gaz. 7 July 1/2 He will have no duties..as his appointed ‘wait’ is from October 3 to 17, when the Queen will be at Balmoral, where the attendance of a Lord-in-Waiting is always dispensed with.
4. The state or condition of waiting or remaining expectant. at wait: in an expectant attitude. in wait: waiting, remaining in a place in expectation of some one coming. rare.
1873Longfellow Wayside Inn iii. Mother's Ghost xviii, When she came to the castle gate, There stood her eldest daughter in wait. 1875Swinburne Ess. & Stud. 344 Next to this we find a sudden sunny bank in the dim depth of a wood, with a wolf at watch and a rabbit at wait.
5. A period of waiting; spec. Theatr., the time of an audience's waiting between the acts, or of an actor's waiting between his appearances in the piece.
1855–6Dickens in Forster Life (1874) III. v. 107 The waits between the acts being very much longer than the acts themselves. 1863Le Fanu House by Churchyard III. ix. 93 This was said after a wait of nearly ten minutes. 1876Daily News 27 Oct. 5/6 What a long, tedious wait it was up there on the edge of the wood while we listened..for some sign of Graf Keller's approach. 1884Manch. Exam. 16 Oct. 5/4 The audience..passed a long wait pleasantly in singing a number of political songs. 1886C. E. Pascoe London To-day iii. (ed. 3) 50 The Criterion has a chorus of glee singers to wile away waits through the courses.
II. A person who watches or waits.
†6. A watchman; a scout, spy. Obs.
a. A military watchman, sentinel, or look-out; also a scout, spy; esp. a watchman in a camp, castle, or fortified place who was furnished with a horn or trumpet to sound an alarm or to make a signal.
a1300Cursor M. 11541 He [Herod] sett his waites bi þe stret, If þai moght wit þaa kinges mett, He commandid son þai suld be slan. 13..K. Alis. 4312 Theo knyghtis heore body dubbeth; The waytes bleow, the belle rynges. c1325Coer de L. 2281 The wayts of that host that did espie, And ful loud began to crie: We are betrayd and y-nome! 1340Ayenb. 121 Þet is þe wayte of þe castele þet neure ne slepþ. c1380Wyclif Wks. (1880) 395 Þe holy prophete Ezechiel saiþ: ‘If þe wayte or þe wacche-man se ennemys cum [etc.].’ 1387Trevisa Higden (Rolls) II. 191 A knyghte þat highte Strabo stode in a weytes place. 1398― Barth. De P.R. v. v. (1495) 108 And for the eye is in stede of a wayte, kynde settyth hym in the hyghest place of the body. c1400Laud Troy Bk. 7222 Euery man to his In owe, The wayte be-gan nyght to blowe. c1435Torr. Portugal 1065 Waytes on the walle gan blowe, Knyghtis assemled on a rowe. c1440Promp. Parv. 513/2 Wayte, speculator (v.r. explorator). 1450–80tr. Secreta Secret. lxi. 37 Loke thou haue good waytes and aspies in thyn oste. 1470–85Malory Arthur vii. xxxi. 263 At the last by fortune he came to a Castel and there he herd the waytes vpon the wallys. 1513Douglas æneis iii. iv. 60 Mysenus, the wait, on the hie garret seyis, And, with his trumpet, thame a takin maid.
transf.1398Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xvii. clxxx. (1495) 721 A vynyerde is ofte vysyted and ouerseen of the erthe tylthers and kepers of vynes and a wayte is there set in an hyghe place.
b. A watchman attached to the royal household who sounded the watch, etc., by the blowing of a pipe, trumpet, or other wind-instrument.
13..K. Alis. 7769 When theo table was y-drawe, Theo wayte gan a pipe blawe. c1430Pilgr. Lyf Manhode iv. xlvii. (1869) 198 The ladi that thou hast herd pleye with instrumentes and bereth an horn that is the waite that awaketh the king alle times that he slepeth bi hire blowinge. a1440Sir Eglam. 1097 Grete lordys were at the assent; Waytys blewe, to mete they wente. a1483Liber Niger in Househ. Ord. (1790) 48 A Wayte, that nyghtly, from Mighelmasse till Shere-Thursday, pipeth the watche within this courte fower tymes,..and he to make bon gayte, and [? read at] everey chambre door and office, as well for fyre as for other pikers or perelles... And under this yoman, a groome wayte. 1802Mrs. Radcliffe Gaston de Blondeville (1826) I. 185 And thus it kept, until the wayte piped his second watch in all the courts.
c. A municipal watchman.
1418Maldon (Essex) Court-Rolls Bundle 11, no. 3, [Ordered, by consent] ballivorum et magnatum ville, in defectu ministrorum alias dictorum waytes, quod quedam campana ecclesie Omnium Sanctorum et alia campana ecclesie Sancti Petri congruis horis noctis pulsentur, viz., in mane Daybell, et in vespere Curfewe. 1419Liber Albus (Rolls) 646 Quod quælibet Porta custodiatur per diem per duos homines bene armatos, et de nocte claudetur per Servientem eam inhabitantem; et quod quilibet Serviens habeat unum Wayte, sumptibus suis propriis.
†7. collect. A body of guards. Obs.
1704in Pegge Curialia iii. (1791) 81 Which Twelve Men [of the Guard] are to be chosen by the Six Waits then out of Waiting. 1747Ibid. 104 Upon Forfeiture of his or their share of such Bounty-Money among the rest of the Wait then and there in waiting.
8.
†a. pl. A small body of wind instrumentalists maintained by a city or town at the public charge. Also sing., a member of this body. Obs.
They played for the daily diversion of the councillors, on ceremonial and festive occasions, and as a town or city band they entertained the citizens, perambulating the streets, often by night or in the early morning.
1298[see waitmeat]. 1438in Cov. Leet Bk. 189 Hyt is ordeyned that they [sic] Trumpet schall haue the rule off the whaytes, and off hem be Cheffe. 1467Ibid. 335 Also þat þe Waytis of þis Cite..shall not passe þis Cite, but to abbottis & priours within x miles of þis Cite. 1499in W. Kelly Notices illustr. Drama (1865) 189 Thomas Wylkyns Wayte. 1541Ibid. 192 Item paed to Thomas Goldsmyth ffor mendyng of the Towne Waytes Collars iijs. iiijd. 1548Ibid. 193 Item pd to Mr. Gyllott for the Wayghts gownes xxxvjs vjd. 1553Machyn Diary (Camden) 47 [The new Lord Mayor went] toward Westmynter [attended by the] craftes of London..with trumpets blohyng and the whets playing. 1571in Picton L'pool Munic. Rec. (1883) I. 118 Lewis Lockwood, Bag⁓piper was admitted Wayte of this town. 1587Fleming Contn. Holinshed III. 289/2 The waits of the citie were placed with lowd musicke, who cheerefullie & melodiouslie welcomed hir maiestie into the citie, this song being soong by the best voices in the same. 1589[? Nashe] Almond for Parrat 2 Who hearing the waites play vnder his window very early, insulted..that [etc.]. a1596Sir T. More (Malone Soc.) 944 Where are the waytes? goe, bid them play, to spend the time awhile. 1609B. Jonson Silent Wom. i. i, Trv. A Trumpet should fright him terribly, or the Hau'-boyes? Cle. Out of his senses. The Waights of the citie haue a pension of him, not to come neere that ward. 1617Moryson Itin. iv. iv. i. (1903) 301 In like sorte many Cittyes mantayne at publike charge Musitians, vsing Sagbutts, Hoboyes, and such loude Instruments, which wee call the waytes of Cyttyes, and these play at the publicke house of the Citty each day at Noone, when the Senatours goe to dinner, and at all publike Feasts. a1625Fletcher Captain ii. ii, Jac. Hark, are the Waits abroad? Fab. Be softer prethee, 'Tis private musick...Jac. Well I will hear, or sleep, I care not whether. 1667Lond. Gaz. No. 189/1 The Mayor, Aldermen and Common Council of this Town, after a Sermon Preached to them, went to the Market-Cross in their Formalities, the Waytes playing before them. 1670Moral State Eng. 132 The Weights of the Town who played upon Cornets and Haut-bois. 1687Wood Life 3 Sept. (O.H.S.) III. 230 When he came to Quartervois he was entertaind with the wind musick or waits belonging to the city and Universitie. 1731Fielding Letter Writers ii. ii, You are a couple of wretched Scrapers, and play ten Degrees worse than the University Waits. 1736F. Drake Eboracum i. vi. 197 [The sheriffs] are preceeded by the city's waites, or musicians, in their scarlet liveries and silver badges playing all the way through the streets. 1762Goldsm. Nash (Globe) 524/1 Upon a stranger's arrival at Bath he is welcomed by..the voice and music of the city waits. 1764in Picton L'pool Munic. Rec. (1886) II. 202 Ordered that John Bolton and John Langhorn be appointed two publick Waites of this town.
b. pl. A band of musicians and singers who perambulate the streets by night at the approach of Christmas and the New Year playing and singing carols and other seasonable music for gratuities.
1773Archæologia II. 66 What we at present call the Waits, or the music on the nights of the Christmas holydays. 1801Busby Dict. Mus. s.v. Wayghtes, Those persons who annually, at the approach of Christmas, salute us with their nocturnal concerts, were, and are to this day, called Wayghtes. 1820Irving Sketch Bk. II. 37 The sound of the Waits,..breaks upon the mid-watches of a winter night. 1889Grove's Dict. Mus. IV. 375 Waits, The. A name given, from time immemorial, to the little bands of rustic Musicians who sing and play Carols, by night, in country places, at Christmas-time.
†c. gen. A player on the flute, hautboy, trumpet, etc. Obs.
1510Stanbridge Vocabula (W. de W.) D iv, Tibicen, a wayte. 1585Higins Junius' Nomencl. 501/1 Spondiales vel spondiauli,..such as plaied vpon long pipes at diuine seruice, they may be called the waytes. 1600Holland Livy xvii. Brev. 390 That..as he returned home to his owne house, the waits should sound the hautboies all the way [tibicine canente]. 1648Gage West Ind. 12 Whom travelling, Indian Waites and Trumpets should accompany.
†9. One who waits in service, an attendant. Obs.
1652Benlowes Theoph. xi. xxx, Still to have toting Waits unseel thine Eyes, In Bed, at Board, when sit, when rise: Such, Card'nal-like, their Paris prize 'bove Paradise.
† III. 10. [Originally a transferred use of 8 c.] pl. Wind instruments, either hautboys, shawms, or flutes. Also sing. (rare). Obs.[Cf. Sp., Pg. gaita, a kind of oboe; the word seems to have been adopted from OF., though no examples of the sense have been found in French of any period.] 1530Palsgr. 286/1 Wayte an instrument, hauboys. 1556Withals Dict. (1562) 68/2 The trumpet or waytes, tuba. 1592Doctor Faustus in Thoms E. Eng. Prose Rom. (1858) III. 178 Lutes, viols, citterns waits..and all manner of other instruments. 1620Shelton 2nd Pt. Quixote xxvi. 173 For amongst Moores you haue..a kinde of Shaulmes that bee like our Waytes. [1703Motteux, like our Waits or Hautboys.] 1636C. Butler Princ. Mus. ii. i. 93 [Wind-instruments, as] Waits or Hobois. 1683Tryon Way to Health 654 Waits are under the dominion of Jupiter, in the Sign Libra; the Sounds and harmonious Consorts of this Instrument are great, noble and pleasing to Nature.
IV.
11. attrib. and Comb., as wait-pipe, wait player, wait-song; † wait captain, the chief of the municipal waits; † wait fee (see quot. 1706); † wait-layer, one who lies in wait; † waitmeat, food supplied to the municipal waits.
1565in Picton L'pool Munic. Rec. (1888) II. 35 Mr. Mayor called James Atherby then being *Waite Captain.
1563in Spelman Gloss. s.v., Per redditum 14s. pro *Wayte fee, and Castle garde. 1706Phillips (ed. Kersey), Wayt-fee, (old Law-word) Ward-penny, or a Fee anciently paid for keeping Watch and Ward.
1600Holland Livy xl. xii. 1067 He..will..have the world beleeve that I play the part not onely of a secret and cunning *wait-laier, but of an open theefe. 1632― Cyrupædia 30 Who ever shall effect this, had need be a waitlayer, a deepe dissembler.
1298Yorks. Inquisit. (Yorks. Rec. Soc. 1902) III. 84, 2s. for *Waytemete and Schirrefstuthe.
14..Nom. in Wr.-Wülcker 694/40 Hec colomaula,..*waytepype.
1610in T. Sharp Cov. Myst. (1825) 210 Every Maior shall pay to the *waite players iiij d.
1872Whittier Penn. Pilgrim 501 On frosty Christmas eves..he..closed his eyes, and listened to the sweet Old *wait-songs sounding down his native street.
▪ II. wait, v.1|weɪt|
Pa. tense and pple. waited. Forms: 2–7 waite, 3–8 wayte, 4–7 wayt, (4 erron. whaite, whayte), 3–4, 6 Sc. waitte, 4–6 Sc. vaitte, 5 waytte, 6–7 waight, 4–6 Sc. watte, 8 dial. watt, 3–4 weite, 4–6 weyte, 7 weight, 3–6, 8 dial. wate, 4 vate, 4– wait.
[Early ME. waite-n, a. ONF. waitier (Central OF. guaitier, gaiter, mod.F. guetter) = Prov. gaitar, It. guatare, to watch, lie in wait for; a. OHG. wahtên (mod.G. wachten) to watch, guard, f. wahta fem. (mod.G. wacht) watch, f. OTeut. *wak-: see wake v.]
I. The simple verb.
†1.
a. trans. To watch with hostile intent; to spy upon; to lie in wait for. Obs.
c1200Vices & Virtues 103 Ðat bið ðo werewede gostes ðe waitið ðo soules hier buuen on ðe wolkne. c1200Trin. Coll. Hom. 43 For ure gult god man bicom and ure eldre waiteden him to deaðe. Ibid. 87 Þanne ferde þe fule gost, and seuene oðre gostes mid him forcuðere þen him self were, and bitrumede þat child, and waiteden hit on eche wise. a1300Cursor M. 23731 Euer he wates vs þat fede, es nathing certainur þan dede. c1300Havelok 512 He may [me] waiten for to slo. 1340Hampole Pr. C. 1186 His despisers he waytes ay, Als shadow to tak to his pray. c1375Sc. Leg. Saints ii. (Peter) 22 In Jerusalem he wes bofte, spyit, waitit, and bundyn ofte. c1420Wyntoun Cron. v. xi. 3062 (MS. Cott.) Ane erl of his companny Waytit Traen sa besely Þat wiþe a buschement he has [slayn] Traen. a1450Le Morte Arth. 74 Sir agravayne at home is he, nyght & day he waytes vs two. 1530Palsgr. 770/2, I wayte, I lye awayte for one to hurte hym, or to spye what he dothe. Je guette. I wyll wayte him here tyll to morowe but I wyll have him. 1596Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.) II. 22 He thairfor appoynted certan cutthrots to wayt thame as fra the Banquet thay return. 1597J. Melvill Autob. & Diary (Wodrow Soc.) 421 They steir upe and incitats four deboshit young limmers, and wattes..James Smithe, as he was coming ham at night from the cost syde.
†b. intr. To keep hostile watch; to lie in wait. Obs.
a1225Ancr. R. 196 Iðe wildernesse heo aspieden [MS. C. in þe wildene weiteden] us to slean. a1300E.E. Psalter ix. 30 He waites [Vulg. insidiatur] in hidel als lioun in den. a1300Cursor M. 899 Þou sal waite womman for to sting, And sco sal yiet þi hede þring. 1362Langl. P. Pl. A. vii. 149 To kepen him..From wastors þat wayten winners to schende. 1404–8Wyt & Wille 30 in 26 Pol. Poems 23 Echon wayte oþer for to kille. 1535Coverdale Obad. i. 14 Nether shalt thou stonde waytinge enymore at y⊇ corners of the stretes, to murthur soch as are fled. 1573–80Tusser Husb. (1878) 125 Lay pease vpon stacke,..And couer it straight, from doues that waight.
†2. trans. To be on the watch to inflict (injury): = await v. 2. Obs.
The sense is app. due to the confusion of this vb. with wait v.2
c1400Destr. Troy 13012 Noght warre of the weghes, þat waited his harme, [He] past furth thurgh the pase with his proude knightes.
†3.
a. To watch, keep one's eye upon, observe constantly; to look out for, watch for. Obs.
a1300Cursor M. 13285 At see sant Iohn and Iam he fand, Quils þai þair lines war waitand. c1300Havelok 1754 And bad him..Hauelok wel yemen..And wel do wayten al þe nith. 13..E.E. Allit. P. B. 99 Fechez mo gestez, Waytez gorstez & greuez, if ani gomez lyggez,..fechez hem hider. c1386Chaucer Sqr.'s T. 121 He wayted many a constellacion Er he had doon this operacion. c1400Destr. Troy 2888 Wemen waited hym well, hade wondur of hym one, That of shap for to shew was shene to beholde. c1400Rule St. Benet 863 And when so we ȝern ony thing Þat may fall vnto flesch likyng, Thinke we god waites vs weterly. c1450St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 1698 Whethir þou wayted our nyght wayes? Ibid. 3761 A monk to wayte þis taken stode.
†b. To watch mentally, observe, consider attentively. Obs.
1382Wyclif Phil. iii. 17 Britheren,..wayte ȝe [Vulg. observate] hem that walken so as ȝe han oure foorme. 1399Langl. Rich. Redeles Prol. 45 Ther nys no gouernour on þe grounde ne sholde gye him þe better..Ȝif he waite well þe wordis, and so werche þerafter. c1430God's Complaint 57 in Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1866) 165 Waite what y dide to marie maudeleyne, And what y seide to thomas of ynde.
†c. To watch over, take charge of, care for (a person's interests). Obs.
13..Cursor M. 5416 (Gött.) Þus coude ihoseph, i said ȝou, waite his lauerd þe kinges prou. 1362Langl. P. Pl. A. vi. 37, I haue ben his felawe þis fiftene wynter..With-Innen and withouten I-wayted his profyt. a1400Morte Arth. 164 If thou my wyrchipe wayte..Thou salle haue gersoms fulle grett. c1400Rule St. Benet 2471 Þeir awn winyng þai sal not wayt, Þat oþer win þai sal couayt.
†d. To search for. Obs.
1340–70Alisaunder 808 Hee wendes too a wildernes & waites him erbes. c1400Beryn 424 Þe Pardonere, þat drewe apart, & weytid hym a trest ffor to hyde hym selff.
†4.
a. intr. To keep watch; to look intently. Also with adv. or phrase, to wait about, wait about one, wait on every side, etc. Obs.
1338R. Brunne Chron. (1725) 120 Hir frendes fulle fast waited aboute & woke, & Mald at þe last kyng Steuen scho toke. 13..Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 2163 Þenne he wayted hym aboute. 13..E.E. Allit. P. B. 1423 He waytez onwyde, his wenches he byholdes. 1362Langl. P. Pl. A. viii. 128 And þorw heore wordes I awok and waitide [MS. V. lokede] aboute, And sauh [etc.]. 1377Ibid. B. xiii. 343, I wayted wisloker, and thanne was it soiled With lykyng of lecherye, as by lokyng of his eye. c1400Destr. Troy 876 He waites vmbe hym wightly, & was ware sone Of þe orible oxin. c1400Ywaine & Gaw. 1815 Sho..waited obout fer and ner. a1400–50Wars Alex. 1585 And as he waytis in a wra, þan was he ware sone Of þe maister of þat meneyhe. 1470–85Malory Arthur vi. xvi. 209 Ther with he wayted aboue hym and vnder hym, and ouer his hede he sawe a rownsepyk. c1480Henryson Fox & Wolf 150 On euerilk syde full warlie couth he wait. a1500Flower & Leaf 106 Wherfore about I waited busily On every syde, if I her mighte see.
†b. To act as a watchman. Obs.
1436Siege of Calais in Polit. Poems (Rolls) II. 153 The porters kept the gattes full manly,..To wate they wer not irk. c1470Harding Chron. cxxxviii. xii, To castell Pilgrym..there was no waye but one full straite, On a cawsey..Strongly walled, with towres on to wayte. 1591Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, i. iii. 3, I am come to suruey the Tower this day;..Where be these Warders, that they wait not here? 1605Verstegan Dec. Intell. x. (1628) 327 Wee call him that waiteth at the Towre one of the ward, or a warder.
†c. To observe carefully. Obs.
1399Langl. Rich. Redeles iii. 128 Ȝit swiche ffresshe ffoodis beth..ffor her dignesse endauntid of dullisshe nollis, And, if þou well waite, of no wight ellis.
†d. With indirect question: To watch, observe carefully what, when, how, etc. Obs.
c1275Lay. 23077 Þis ileueþ Bruttus þat he wole come þus and lokeþ and waiteþ wane he come to londe. c1290S. Eng. Leg. 268 Euere he waytede, ȝif ore louerd ani grace him wolde sende. c1330R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 1495 He sente knyghtes & squiers To waite who made on hym pres. c1350Will. Palerne 1821, I wol..waite ȝif any weiȝh comes wending alone. c1391Chaucer Astrol. ii. §25 Now yif so be þat the semith to long a tarienge.., thanne whaite whan the sonne is in any other degree of the zodiak. c1470Henry Wallace v. 902 A suerd he drew, rych manlik him to wer, Ay wayttand fast gyff he can get a sper. 1598R. Bernard tr. Terence (1607) Andria i. i, Observes illum quid agat: quid captet consilii. Watch him what hee doth, wait what he intendeth.
†e. To take precautions, be watchful or cautious. In imperative: Take care, see to it that.
13..E.E. Allit. P. B. 292, I schal wayte to be war her wrenchez to kepe. c1386Chaucer Prol. 571 Algate he wayted so in his achat That he was ay biforn and in good stat. c1460J. Russell Bk. Nurture 436 in Babees Bk., Euer of a sharpe knyff wayte þat ye be sure. 1470–85Malory Arthur i. ii. 37 But wayte ye make not many questions with her nor her men, but saye ye are diseased, and soo hye yow to bedde. 1522World & Child (facs.) A iv, Wayte well that thou suffre no shame.
5. a. trans. To look forward (esp. with desire or apprehension) to (some future event or contingency); to continue in expectation of. Now somewhat rare: usually superseded by await v.
a1400Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS. 527/80 Ȝif þou waxe pore he wol skorne þe—Wayte of him neuere oþer bounte. c1400Destr. Troy 3322, I wot, sir, witterly, will I or noght, Your wille I moste wirke, waite I non other. c1586C'tess Pembroke Ps. lxix. i, Waiting aid, with ernest eying. 1634Massinger Very Wom. iv. i, Ped. I thank ye, And soon I'll wait your promise. 1671–2Sir C. Lyttelton in Hatton Corr. (Camden) 75 Wee waite much wht y⊇ Spaniards will returne to y⊇ King of France message. 1746Francis tr. Hor., Epist. i. xviii. 21 Admitted as an humble Guest, Where Men of Money break their Jest, He waits the Nod, with Awe profound, And catches, ere it reach the Ground, The falling Joke. 1802H. Martin Helen of Glenross II. 57 If Harry really loves me.., bid him wait futurity with composure. 1830Tennyson Adeline iv, What aileth thee? whom waitest thou? 1837Carlyle Fr. Rev. I. i. i, Or they that in the Bicêtre Hospital, ‘eight to a bed’, lie waiting their manumission. 1848Thackeray Van. Fair xl, She took up her residence with Mr. Bowls..and waited the result of the advertisement. 1885J. H. Dell Dawning Grey, Higher Creed 6 We wait the harps of sounder string, Than [etc.].
b. intr. (Chiefly to wait for = sense 5 a above).
1577Hanmer Anc. Eccl. Hist., Socr. i. xix. 245 When the woman perceaued her selfe to be daungerously sicke, and wayted for no other then present death. 1581Satir. Poems Reform. xliv. 266, I knaw thou vaittis Lieutenentis place to haue. a1591H. Smith Serm., Noah's Drunk. (1602) G 4 b, The ground..wayted for nothing now, but a paynefull labourer to till and dresse it. 1621T. Granger Expos. Eccles. xi. 5. 297 And hee that waiteth for olde mens shoes, may happily goe bare foote in the meane time. 1641Milton Reform. ii. 87 These importunate Wolves, that wait and thinke long till they devoure thy tender Flock. 1805Med. Jrnl. XIV. 374 We wait with anxiety but not with impatience for the succeeding numbers. 1833Tennyson Dream Fair Women xxviii, Dimly I could descry The stern black⁓bearded Kings.., Waiting to see me die.
c. To remain for a time without something expected or promised.
1550Crowley Last Trumpet 935 If thou be a mans atturney,..Let him not waite and spende money, If his dispatch do lie in the. 1897Hall Caine Christian x, That was the only condition on which he would agree to wait for his money.
d. Phr. wait for it, said (often parenthetically) to create an interval of suspense before imparting something remarkable or amusing, in order to heighten its effect. Also ironically. colloq.
1930M. Allingham Mystery Mile xviii. 170 ‘Wait a minute,’ said Mr. Knapp. ‘Wait for it... That is just exactly wot I do know.’ 1958S. Hyland Who goes Hang? xvi. 74 ‘You're hiding something{ddd}’ ‘Wait for it my dear.’ 1966‘H. Calvin’ Italian Gadget ii. 21 We can have a shower and..wait for it, dinner at the Palazzo Capucci. 1979R. Laidlaw Lion is Rampant xviii. 139 The real attack will come from, wait for it, wait for it—anither direction a'thegither.
6. a. trans. To continue stationary or quiescent, in expectation of (a person or thing, an event); to defer departure or action until the arrival or occurrence of. Now rare: superseded by wait for (see 7) and await v.
1375Barbour Bruce v. 36 Tharfor thair cummyng vatit he, And met thame at thair ariving. 14..Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1903) 273 Mary hys moder went þe weye To caluery þer he xuld deye, And waytyd þer here chylde. 1578in Feuillerat Revels Q. Eliz. (1908) 297 To waight my Lord Chamberlaines comyng thither. a1604Hanmer Chron. Irel. (1633) 59 From thence he went to a place called Lothra, where he builded another Monasterie, and lyeth there wayting the generall resurrection. 1662Stillingfl. Orig. Sacræ ii. vi. §2 That where there were any other evidences, that the Prophet spake by Divine Revelation, there was no reason to wait the fulfilling of every particular Prophecy before he was believed as a Prophet. 1667Dryden & Dk. Newcastle Sir M. Mar-all i. i, This Tide will bring them from Gravesend. You had best let your man go, as from me, And wait them at the Stairs in Durham-yard. 1771E. Griffith Hist. Lady Barton II. 253 We had before agreed to wait the return of the chancellor's messenger at St. Omers. 1797Ht. Lee Canterb. T., Frenchm. T. (1799) I. 293 Without waiting her answer..he would have led her down stairs. 1802Noble Wanderers II. 128 One of the slaves, whom he had commanded to wait his return. 1808Pike Sources Mississ. ii. App. 22 We were requested to halt and wait the arrival of the chief, who was half a mile from us. 1816Scott Old Mort. xxxviii, Lady Emily's servant was waiting orders in the kitchen. 1819― Leg. Montrose xxiii, She now waits you at the altar. 1883Whitelaw Sophocles, Philoct. 123 Now then remain, and wait his coming here, Whilst I go hence. 1899Quiller-Couch Ship of Stars xxvi, The Vicar clambered out to wait it [the coffin].
b. transf. Of things: To remain in readiness for, to await; to be in store for, to be reserved for. Cf. await v. 8 a.
1745Sc. Transl. & Paraphr. li. i, But better mansions wait the just, prepar'd above the sky. 1761Churchill Rosciad 512 Public Contempt shall wait the Public Fool. 1850Robertson Serm. Ser. iii. xviii. (1853) 233 The same..calculations wait us when we bend our eyes on that which is to come. 1854Surtees Handley Cr. xl. (1901) II. 36 ‘Tea and coffee wait your pleasure in the drawing-room’, observed the stiff-necked footman.
c. to wait out: (a) U.S. Baseball, (of a batter) to force (a pitcher) to throw a maximum number of pitches by refraining from striking at pitches in the hope of getting a base ‘on balls’, i.e. because they were not pitched over the home-plate; hence (chiefly U.S. colloq.), to wait during (a period of time, an event, etc.); to wait for the end of; also, to wait it out, to endure a period of waiting; (b) = to wait for (sense 7).
1909Amer. Mag. Aug. 401 Still Chance commanded: ‘Wait—wait him out.’ Every batter went to the plate intent on making Donovan pitch as many balls to them as possible. 1936Philadelphia Rec. 31 July 15/1 Alf M. Landon is up there under instructions from the bench to wait 'em out. 1956H. Kurnitz Invasion of Privacy xv. 95 He monopolized the phone in the bedroom, where Shelly and Zorn were waiting it out. 1959N.Y. Times Mag. 11 Oct. 18/1 He is sealed into the container and..lies there in his ‘contour couch’ and waits out the long countdown. 1966D. Francis Flying Finish x. 131, I retired to the snack bar..to wait out the twenty minutes. 1977R. Perry Dead End i. 9 Unfortunately, I couldn't afford to wait him out. Daley was already overdue.
7. intr. or absol.
a. To remain in a place, defer one's departure until something happens. Often to wait for = sense 6.
c1386Chaucer Knt.'s T. 71 And certes lord, to abyden youre presence Heere in the temple of the goddesse clemence We han ben waitynge al this fourtenyght. 1535Coverdale Judith x. 6 Now whan she came to the porte of the cite, she founde Osias and the elders of the cite waitinge there. 1568Grafton Chron. II. 642 But he was espyed by diuerse watermen..which wayted for his foorthcomyng on the Thamys. 1599Shakes. Much Ado i. iii. 17, I must bee sad when I haue cause, and smile at no mans iests, eat when I haue stomacke, and wait for no mans leisure. 1628Ford Lover's Mel. iii. i, At the back dore Tatter-demallians waite, who know not how To get admittance. 1711Steele Spect. No. 132 ⁋1, I..dressed immediately, that I might make no one wait. 1779Mirror No. 57 Allowing ladies to go unattended to a public place, to wait there four hours in expectation of the gentlemen with whom they were to dance. 1835Dickens Sk. Boz, Parish iii, The old adage, ‘time and tide wait for no man’. 1856Ruskin King Golden River i. (ed. 3) 12 What did you keep us waiting in the rain for? 1860Tyndall Glac. i. xxii. 152 At the summit of these rocks I again waited for him. 1896Conan Doyle Rodney Stone xxii, Sir James Ovington's carriage was waiting without. 1905R. Bagot Passport xi. 104, I must drive back to Genzano. I told the vetturino to wait.
b. colloq. to wait about: to linger expectantly, ‘hang about’ where something is likely to happen. Also (chiefly U.S.) to wait around.
1879M. E. Braddon Clov. Foot xxix. II. 268 ‘What has become of your brother?’ Laura asked, as she and Celia waited about, side by side, watching the assembly of the field. 1886Besant Childr. Gibeon ii. xxx, The street was, however, well enough lighted for Claude to see a figure waiting about on the pavement. 1895M. Halstead Hundred Bear Stor. 57 It grew sort of monotonous waiting around. 1899J. L. Williams Stolen Story etc. 175, I suppose they're waiting around till it stops raining.
c. To defer action until some event has taken place; also with inf., to delay to do something.
a1633G. Herbert Outlandish Prov. (1640) 25 Hee puls with a long rope, that waights for anothers death. 1800Med. Jrnl. III. 460 To wait ‘no longer than ten or fifteen minutes for the efforts of nature’, is a position which cannot be too strongly reprobated. 1836J. H. Newman Par. Serm. III. xxi. 342 If we wait till all the world are worshippers, we must wait till the world is new made. 1843Carlyle Past & Pr. iii. xv, A whole Eternity I waited to be born. 1852Thackeray Esmond i. viii, Beatrix..waited even to burst out a-crying until she got to the door. 1874Green Short Hist. viii. §6. 519 He had shown he knew how to wait, and when waiting was over he knew how to act. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 434 A man should wait, and not take his own life until God summons him. 1883Whitelaw Sophocles, Philoct. 837 Thou seest, now is the time. Why should we wait to do this deed?
d. to wait on: (a) Sc. to linger about a place; (b) Sc. also, to linger in expectation of death; (c) Hawking (see quot. 1891); (d) dial. (esp. Austral. and N.Z.), to wait for a while, to ‘hold on’. Freq. imp.
(a)1818Scott Hrt. Midl. xii, It's a sair thing to hae to do wi' courts of law, unless it be to improve one's knowledge..by waiting on as a hearer.
(b)1836J. M. Wilson's Tales Borders II. 377, I did hear tell that his faither was waitin on, but I hope he's no that far gane yet.
(c)1773J. Campbell Mod. Faulconry 158 If your hawk wait well on at her being first entered. 1828J. S. Sebright Hawking (1828) 17 He [the hawk] may thus be made to follow the falconer wherever he pleases; this is called waiting on. 1891Harting Bibl. Accipitr. 231 A hawk is said to ‘wait on’ when she soars in circles over the head of the falconer, waiting for the game to be flushed.
(d)1943N. Marsh Colour Scheme xiii. 228 ‘Wait on, wait on,’ Dikon heard Webley mumble, ‘You'll get it back all right.’ 1946K. Tennant Lost Haven (1947) x. 138 Wait on, Patsy... Wait on, Patsy. You talk of letting the water out, but what about the fish?—bloody fish'll go too. 1967‘G. Douglas’ Death went Hunting xviii. 161 For some reason I can't define, he seems quite willing to accept his present position... As we say in Yorkshire, he appears to be waiting on. 1968S. L. Elliott Rusty Bugles in E. Hanger Three Austral. Plays 92 Andy: Open the one from Darky. Gig: I am blast you... Wait on, can't you?
e. Racing. to wait off: to allow oneself to be distanced by other competitors in order to ‘romp in’ when their energies are exhausted. Cf. waiting vbl. n.1 2 c.
1856‘Druid’ Post & Paddock vi. 91 He patiently waited off, while Sancho forced the running.
f. to wait up: to defer going to bed in expectation of the arrival of some one.
1855Trollope Warden xviii, Dr. Grantly..and Mrs. Grantly..are waiting up for you. 1892Temple Bar Oct. 169 Don't wait up for me.
g. to wait and see (with indirect question or ellipsis of this): to await the course of events. Also wait and see n. phr.
In the early 20th c. often used with allusion to Mr. H. H. Asquith's repeated reply of ‘Wait and see’ to a succession of questions in parliament.
1719De Foe Crusoe i. (Globe) 267 However, we had no Remedy, but to wait and see what the Issue of Things might present. 1836Dickens Sk. Boz, Scotland-Yard, The tailor..bid them wait and see what happened. 1848― Dombey xxxv, Mr. Towlinson..says wait and see. 1883M. B. Betham-Edwards Disarmed viii, When we have had dinner, we will do something better than have stories. Wait and see. 1910Blackw. Mag. May 747/1 Mr. Asquith has deemed it not incompatible with the gravity of his office to elude the curiosity of his opponents with the absurd formula, ‘Wait and see’. 1969S. Hyland Top Bloody Secret ii. 121 The philosophy of wait and see..was getting him nowhere. 1976Scottish Daily Express 23 Dec. 11/2 The rest of the back row is in a similar state of ‘wait and see’.
attrib.1870L. M. Alcott Old-Fashioned Girl xiv. 231 She..thought she would ‘wait and see.’.. The ‘wait-and-see’ decision was making her friend unhappy. 1915F. S. Oliver Ordeal by Battle i. vii. 82 History..shows us at every other crisis of this sort always the same triangle of forces—a War party, a Peace party, and a Wait-and-See party. 1930[see flop adv. and int.]. 1977A. J. Russell Pour Hemlock xii. 147 His was a wait-and-see posture. 1984Times 8 June 20/1 An understandable wait-and-see management caution.
h. transf. Of a thing: To remain in readiness for some purpose. Also, to remain for a while neglected.
1838Lytton Alice i. iii, ‘So you are come for your daily lesson?’ ‘Yes; but Tasso can wait if [etc.].’ 1876J. Parker Paracl. i. ii. 14 John's gospel is waiting until the Church becomes mature enough to understand it. 1894Hall Caine Manxman vi. xvii, There was a letter waiting for Philip at home. Mod. This letter must be answered at once; the others can wait.
i. quasi-trans. To postpone (a meal) in expectation of the arrival of some one. colloq.
1788J. Woodforde Diary 29 Feb. (1927) III. 8 Mr. Taswell..desired us to send to Mr. Custance that they might not wait dinner for him. 1836Dickens Let. 17 Sept. (1965) I. 174, I hope and trust you did not wait dinner for me. 1838Dickens O. Twist li, ‘It's a trying thing waiting supper for lovers,’ said Mr. Grimwig, waking up. 1862Trollope Orley F. xxi, Who asked you to wait tea till near eleven o'clock?
j. to be unable (etc.) to wait (for or to do something), to be very eager or anxious for or to do it. colloq.
1938D. du Maurier Rebecca xvi. 232 ‘Oh, Madam, how exciting,’ breathed Clarice. ‘I don't know how I am going to wait for the day.’ 1958I. Murdoch Bell xix. 234 We're all so excited, we can hardly wait for tomorrow morning. 1971J. Osborne West of Suez ii. i. 63 Can't wait! Let's go home now. 1972National Observer (U.S.) 27 May 10/3 Now the young musicians can't wait to get at their instruments.
k. (you) wait till (or until).., used to imply a threat, warning, etc., or promise of something interesting or exciting, when the specified event has occurred. Also ellipt. as you wait!
1938G. Greene Brighton Rock iii. i. 99 ‘I dunno who Brewer is,’ Ida said, ‘but things seem lively.’ ‘You wait till the races start,’ the man said. ‘They'll be lively all right then.’ 1953E. Simon Past Masters iii. iii. 154 Parents brazened out their children's tantrums with the key-phase of, ‘You wait!’. 1960S. Barstow Kind of Loving ii. ii. 162 Seventy-four guineas, Henry. Seventy-four bloody lovely guineas. Just wait till we tell Mr. Van Huyten about this. 1975J. Gores Hammett xix. 130 She was going over to..tea with the George F. Biltmores! Wait until she wrote her mother about that! 1984Guardian 5 Oct. 14/3 Mr Scargill..will soon, very soon—just you wait—emerge triumphant.
8. Phrases. to wait one's (or the) time, hour, opportunity, etc.
†a. (sense 3) To watch, look out for an opportunity (obs.).
b. (sense 6) To defer action until a fitting season or opportunity shall present itself.
a.a1300Cursor M. 19715 Þair redes þar-for can þai run,..Night and dai to wait þe time Quen þai moght cum to murther him. 1303R. Brunne Handl. Synne 825 Weyte þy tyme, and be not þe last To come whan holy watyr ys cast. 1338― Chron. (1725) 94 To triste was he sette, forto waite þe chance. 1375Barbour Bruce v. 523 He hame till his houss is gane, And vatit oportunite For to fulfill his mawite. c1386Chaucer Frankl. T. 535 Nyght and day he spedde hym þat he kan To wayten a tyme of his conclusion. c1420Wyntoun Cron. vi. xiii. 1220 (MS. Cott.) Twa men he bade in prewate To wayt ane oportunyte, And stel þat barn. 1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 83 Waytynge theyr vauntage whan they may smyte the & slee the.
b.c1375Sc. Leg. Saints iii. (Andrew) 999 Þe bischope had gret will his fellone lust to fulfill, waitand bot lasare quhen he mycht purchess oportunite. 1626B. Jonson Staple of N. ii. ii, Well, Sir, I'll wait a better season. 1701W. Wotton Hist. Rome, Marcus iv. 59 Cassius was obliged to wait his opportunity. 1799Dundas in Owen Wellesley Desp. (1877) 644 We cannot at present materially meliorate his government, but must wait favourable opportunities. 1813Scott Rokeby i. xxix, She comes not—He will wait the hour, When her lamp lightens in the tower.
9. a. To be in readiness to receive orders; hence, to be in attendance as a servant; to attend as a servant does to the requirements of a superior. Chiefly const. on: see wait on, 14 j.
1526Tindale 1 Cor. ix. 13 They which wayte att the aulter are parttakers with the aultre. 1617Moryson Itin. ii. 49 Yea, his Lordships very Grayhound, likewise vsing to waite at his stirrop, was shot through the body. c1655Milton Sonn., ‘When I consider’ 14 They also serve who only stand and waite. 1818Scott Br. Lamm. xviii, He..dropped a little behind the lady, at whose bridle-rein he had hitherto waited with such devotion.
b. To serve as an attendant at table; to hand food and drink to persons at a meal. Phr. to wait at table (cf. 14 j), † to wait at a trencher.
1568T. Howell Arb. Amitie 36 b, (Iacke showes his qualities) Yee and ich can, if neede be than, waight at the table well. Ibid., Where ich did waite, at euerye baite. 1592in Sir J. Harington's Nugæ Antiq. (1804) I. 106 Item, That no man waite at the table, without a trencher in his hand. 1605Breton I pray you (Grosart) 8/2 To spend my time..onely for..waighting at a trencher, looking on a faire house. c1618Moryson Itin. iv. ii. (1903) 90 These gentlemen servants waite with their hatts on, and sett at their masters table, both at home and abroad where their masters are invited. 1742Fielding J. Andrews i. ii, Joey was now preferred from the stable to attend on his lady, to..wait at her tea-table [etc.]. 1796–7Jane Austen Pride & Prej. xlvii, She had not prudence enough to hold her tongue before the servants, while they waited at table. 1853Dickens Bleak Ho. iv, The young woman with the flannel bandage waited, and dropped everything on the table wherever it happened to go. 1905E. T. Thurston Traffic v. iv, ‘Is she a musician then [at the restaurant]?’ asked Mr. Puckle. ‘No—she waited.’
†c. to wait up: to be in attendance at the head of the table. Obs.
a1634Chapman Alphonsus iii. i, As for the Chambermaid and my self, we will take our places at the neither end, the Jester is to wait up, and live by the crums that fall from the Emperours trencher.
d. quasi-trans. to wait (the) table = to wait at table. Sc.
1827Carlyle tr. L. Tieck in Germ. Rom. II. 135 Andres waited supper. 1879Stevenson Trav. Cevennes 152 She waited the table with a heavy placable nonchalance. a1894― St. Ives xi. (1898) 82 We had a good many pleasant passages as she waited table or warmed my bed for me.
†e. quasi-trans. to wait attendance: to remain in attendance. Obs.
1590[see attendance 5]. 1607Shakes. Timon i. i. 161.
†10.
a. trans. To attend or escort, to accompany for the purpose of rendering service or showing respect. Obs.
c1384Chaucer L.G.W. 1269 This Troyan, that..can so well doon alle his obeisaunces, And waytyn hire at festis & at dauncis. 1598Greene Jas. IV, v. i, I must to Edenbourg, vnto the King, There to take charge and waight him in his warres. 1633Massinger Guard. ii. i, Jol. Waite me. Calyph. As your shadow. Exeunt Jol. Calyp. 1687Dryden Hind. & P. i. 557 She made a mannerly excuse to stay, Proffering the Hind to wait her half the way. 1697― æneis viii. 734 Steeds are prepar'd to mount the Trojan Band; Who wait their Leader to the Tyrrhene Land. Ibid. xi. 92 He..chose a thousand Horse..to wait the Funeral. 1725Pope Odyss. iv. 61 Refresh'd, they wait them to the bow'r of state. 1728― Dunc. i. 265 She bids him wait her to her sacred Dome: Well pleas'd he enter'd. 1816L. Hunt Rimini i. 242 His shield Borne by the squire that waits him to the field.
†b. absol. Obs.
1599B. Jonson Cynthia's Rev. ii. iii, One, that hath newly entertain'd the begger to follow him, but cannot get him to wait neere enough.
†11. To attend as a concomitant or consequence.
1675Traherne Chr. Ethics 330 Prudence consists most in attempting the business, for it will go on, and is ever waited with success when undertaken. a1718Prior First Hymn Callimachus 64 Swift Growth and wond'rous Grace, O heav'nly Jove, Waited Thy blooming Years.
II. Special constructions with preps.
†12. wait after ―.
a. To expect, look forward to; to be ambitious or desirous of, seek for. Obs.
1393Gower Conf. III. 323 This Leonin..waiteth after gret beyete; But al for noght. 1393Langl. P. Pl. C. ii. 124 Hewes in þe halyday after hete wayten. c1440Generydes 2440 He is descendid of an high lenage, And..waytith after right grete heritage. c1449Pecock Repr. ii. i. 135 That we waite not aftir to be hoosilid with the sacrament of the auter. Ibid. v. ii. 489 Certis he may not waite aftir that the conclusioun of this argument be proued or be trewe. c1489Caxton Sonnes of Aymon xix. 423 It is not for vs to wayte after pyte of hym, for he is over cruell a kyng vpon us. 1533tr. Erasm. Comm. Crede 52 b, They do wayte after a kynge plentuosly appoynted with ryches, with armies or hostes of men, and with other worldly aydes.
†b. To look out for; to watch, keep in observation. Obs.
c1400Beryn 1589 Beryne clepid a Marynere, & bad hym ‘sty on lofft, And weyte aftir our four Shippis, [þat] aftir vs doith dryve.’ 1450–1530Myrr. our Ladye i. xx. 54 He sawe a fende that..wayted bysely after all letters, and syllables, and wordes, and faylynges, that eny made. c1489Caxton Sonnes of Aymon xxvi. 553 Thenne they set theymselfe doun vpon the fayr grasse, waytynge after theyr adverse party.
wait for ―: see 5 b, 7.
13. wait of ―.
†a. To execute the commands of. Obs.
a1586Sidney Arcadia i. xi. (1912) 69 He would extol the deeds of Philoxenus, who indeede had but waited of him therin. Ibid. v. (1598) 465 A Counseller, who hath..the reasonable excuse of a seruant, that did but wait of his mistresse.
†b. To escort, accompany on the way, as a mark of honour: = wait on, 14 k. Obs.
1563Foxe A. & M. 860/1 This deponent..receyued the kynges maiesties Visitors at Chichester,..and conducted and wayted of them into the dioces of Wynton. 1606Chapman Gent. Usher iii. ii. 77 Waite of Master Usher to the doore. 1709N. Blundell Diary (1895) 78, I Wated of y⊇ Duke and Dutches of Norfolk &c. out of Wigan part of their way towards Preston. 1724Briton No. 25. 110 Footmen..return when the Play is done to wait of them home. 1734Adm. Gordon in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. i. 193 At 9 acloake I sent my pinnace to wayte of General Lacy.
†c. To pay a respectful visit to: = wait on, 14 m. Obs.
1555in Lodge Illustr. Brit. Hist. (1791) I. 211 Trustyng shortely to wayte of yor Lordshyppe. c1673W. Mountagu in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.) I. 320 My Lord and his sons have been to see me at my chamber, but I had the misfortune to be abroad; and upon that score..I will wait of them again. 1677Ibid. 324, I..shall acquaint his Lordship myself with it on Saturday, before which I cannot wait of him. 1707N. Blundell Diary (1895) 55, I went to Bold to wate of Mr. Molin[eux] but he was gon a hunting.
d. = wait for: see 7 a. Now dial.
1712Tyldesley Diary (1873) 23 Stayed alday at Dick Jackson's watting of Mr. Blackborne, who came not till affter nine att night. 1828Trial Wm. Dyon at York Assizes 8, I was up waiting of my master until two o'clock.
14. wait on or upon ―.
†a. To observe, watch; to fix one's eyes upon, gaze at. Obs.
c1384Chaucer H. Fame 342 For though your loue laste a seson, Wayte vpon the conclusyon. c1394P. Pl. Crede 361 Þei wilneþ worshipes—but waite on her dedes! c1400Rowland & O. 444 To þ⊇ castelle he wendes a pase And appone þ⊇ kirnells gase, to wayte appon þat were. c1400Destr. Troy 13055 So Eger were all men Elan to se, For to waite on þat worthy went þai belyue. c1430Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 6344 Anoon Jewel to his ship sent To warn his men to be redie, On his comyng to waite and spie. 1538Elyot Dict., Inspecto, to behold attentiuely, to wayte on.
†b. To lie in wait for. Obs.
1390Gower Conf. I. 349 Of his men a gret partie He made in buisshement abide, To waite on him in such a tide That he ne mihte here hond ascape. 1595Locrine iv. i. 183 Millions of diuels wayt vpon thy soule! 1628Hobbes Thucyd. ii. (1629) 128 As they sayled along the shore, Phormio waited on them till they were out of the streight, intending to set vpon them in the open Sea.
†c. To secure, protect (oneself). Obs.
c1400Destr. Troy 12722 Þan he counseld Clunestra,..To be war of þat wegh, & wait on hir-seluyn.
†d. To attend to (a business, a duty). Obs.
1526Tindale Rom. xii. 7 Let hym that hath an office, wayte on his office. [Similarly in later versions.]
†e. With clause as obj.: To take care that. Obs.
1596Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.) I. 255 He wayted weill onn, be all meines possible, that nathyng dekayet of Justice in his Realme.
† f. To await, expect with desire or anxiety. Obs.
c1400Destr. Troy 7944, I wot the in witte to waite on myn end. 1608Yorks. Trag. viii. 23 Was this the answear I long waited on? 1642Milton Apol. Smect. 37, I perceave how hopelesse it will be to reach the heigth of their prayses at the accomplishment of that expectation that weights upon their noble deeds.
†g. To await the action of; to look to (a person) for something. Obs.
1682Bunyan Holy War (1905) 253 That the Prince that lay in the Leaguer without the Wall, waited upon them [the townsfolk] for an answer.
h. In Bible phrase, to place one's hope in (God). Cf. waiter 4 b.
Very common in the Bible of 1611; rendering several Heb. verbs of identical meaning.
1535Coverdale Ps. lxi[i]. 1 My soule wayteth only vpon God, for of him commeth my helpe. 1611Bible Ps. xxv. 3 Let none that wait on the be ashamed. 1840Geo. Eliot Let. 20 July (1954) I. 58 That constant waiting on God for instruction and comfort which [the Quietists]..make the sum total of religion. 1931J. Buchan Blanket of Dark xvi. 307 Be still and wait on God. 1979R. Blythe View in Winter ix. 300 One of the best things which all these new changes have brought about is this notion of waiting upon God.
i. To remain in one place in expectation of = wait for (7 a). Also, more generally, to wait for (5 b).
1694tr. Marten's Voy. Spitzbergen in Acc. Sev. Late Voy. ii. 7 We were forced to wait on him above half an hour, before he came from underneath the Ice. 1817W. Sewall Diary 2 May (1930) 14/1, I proceeded to the Academy and agreed to enter there upon condition that the Professor would wait on me until the next winter. 1865O. L. Jackson Colonel's Diary (1922) 227 We have been waiting on the pay department. 1915J. Buchan 39 Steps vi. 135 He..raised his placid eyebrows and waited on me to speak. 1931Amer. Speech VII. 20 Wait on, wait for, the Biblical sense. ‘When I got there, John was waiting on me.’ (Widespread.) 1955F. O'Connor Wise Blood v. 85 He..darted after Hazel Motes. ‘Wait on me!’ he shouted. 1960Observer 7 Feb. 13/4 The nation waits on the railwaymen, to see if there will be a strike or not. 1984P. Turnbull Big Money ix. 153, ‘I was just waiting on you two coming back.’ He stood and reached for his coat.
j. To attend as or in the manner of a servant to the personal requirements of; to minister to the comfort of. † Also in phrases, to wait on the cup, the trencher, the table (cf. 9 b).
to wait on (a person) hand and foot: see hand n. 57.
1509–10Act 1 Hen. VIII, c. 14 §1 No servyng manne waytyng uppon his maister..were eny garded Hose. c1550Cheke Matt. iv. 11 Then let y⊇ devel him go, and lo angels cam vnto him and waited on him. 1552Huloet, Wayte on the cup, ad cyathos stare. 1575Gascoigne Glasse of Govt. Wks. 1910 II. 66 Wee should have beene fayne to wayte on the table, and to bee contented with their leavings after supper. 1602Kyd's Sp. Trag. ii. v. (Addit.), His Maiestie the other day did grace him With waiting on his cup. 1615G. Sandys Trav. 80 When they grow old, they most grow contemptible, being put to do the drudgeries of the house, and many times to waite on their children. 1749Fielding Tom Jones vii. xv, It is not my business, answered the Drawer, to wait upon the Chambers. If you come to that, answered the Maid, it is not my business to wait upon Gentlemen. 1847Marryat Childr. New Forest iv, You can have no servants to wait upon you. 1866Mrs. H. Wood Mildred Arkell xi, When I was only six years old I had to wait on Mamma and Charlotte. 1901T. J. Alldridge Sherbro xii. 114 He is waited upon hand and foot.
k. To accompany on one's way (as a mark of respect or to render service or assistance); to escort. Now rare (? exc. U.S.).
1450W. Lomner in Paston Lett. I. 124 With other shippis waytyng on hym. 1481Cov. Leet Bk. (1908) 486 There shuld be xl sowdyers mo waged for a quarter of þe town wages to make vp a C men to wayte vppon the kyng in þis viage etc. c1530Tindale Jonas Prol. A vj b, Ande one yt cast out deuels in Christes name they forbade because he wayted not on them. 1585Higins Junius' Nomencl. 517/1 Pronuba,..a bridemaid, or she that trimmeth and maketh ready the bride, and waiteth vpon her homeward to her husbands house. 1595Shakes. John v. vii. 98 Let it be so, and you my noble Prince,..Shall waite vpon your Fathers Funerall. 1601Ld. Mountjoy Let. 13 Nov. in Moryson's Itin. ii. (1617) 155 We entertained them so well, that we waited on them to the walls of the Towne, and made them leave some of their dead bodies behind them. 1628T. Ball Life Preston (1885) 175 His friends at Cambridge, who did highly honour him, and desired nothing more then to have wayted on his dust to his long home. 1654Evelyn Diary 4 July, On a letter from my wife's uncle, Mr. Pretyman, I waited back on her to London. 1713Tyldesley Diary (1873) 107 Then went to wate on Judge Dormr out off the toun. Ibid. 125 He watted on her home. 1807–8W. Irving Salmag. iii. (1860) 51 On landing we were waited upon to our lodgings..by a vast and respectable escort. 1880P. Ludlow Nick Hardy at College vi. (1882) 29 Nick complied, and was waited on into the drawing-room.
transf.1691Tate Petty's Pol. Anat. Ded. to Dk. Ormond, Be pleas'd to permit this useful Treatise to wait on you to the Camp.
l. Hence (?) in Hunting, to wait close upon: to keep close to (the horse immediately in front).
1861G. J. Whyte-Melville Market Harb. xxv, Crasher..and Sawyer take their leaps abreast, and latter riding very quietly and carefully... Luxury is waiting close upon them.
m. To pay a respectful visit to; to call upon with the intention of showing respect, asking a favour, or the like.
1501Plumpton Corr. (Camden) 161 Also I shall wate one you at Nottingham one sunday next, except ye comand me contrary. 1594O. B. Quest. Profit. Concern. 5 God willing he shall one day waight vpon you to better his knowledges. 1638in Verney Mem. (1892) I. 279, I have A greate ambition yt you would please to honour me so farre as..to admitt me to waite upon you. 1664Sir A. Bateman in Extr. St. P. rel. Friends iii. (1912) 215 It is my Lord Chanselors comaund to mee, that I waite vpon your Honor to deliuer this inclosed letter to you. 1713Addison Guardian No. 107 ⁋3 She will wait upon any Lady at her own Lodging, and talk by the Clock after the Rate of three Guineas an Hour. 1765R. Gem in Jesse Selwyn & Contemp. (1843) I. 367 The Baron D'Olbach and I intend ourselves the pleasure of waiting on you to dinner to-morrow. 1766Goldsm. Vic. W. xxx, A person of distinction..sent his respects to the gentleman that was with us, and begged to know when he should think proper to be waited upon. 1848Dickens Dombey xxvi, I took the liberty of waiting on her..to inquire if she could charge me with any little commission. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. ix. II. 474 The Primate and the few Spiritual Peers who happened to be then in London had orders to wait upon the King. 1885Manch. Exam. 6 July 4/7 A deputation had waited upon Lords Salisbury, Redesdale, and Roxburghe.
† transf.1762Wilkes Let. 21 Sept. (1769) I. 15 Sunday's post brought me your lordship's [letter] of the 17th, and by the return of it this waits on your lordship.
n. Of things: To accompany; to be associated with; to attend as a concomitant or consequence.
1579–80North Plutarch, Lycurgus (1595) 52 For no man is so..simple witted, as to bring into so povre and meane houses, bedsteads with siluer feete, imbrodered couerlets..nor such other like costly furniture and finenesse, as those things require to waite vpon them. 1605Shakes. Macb. i. vii. 44 Letting I dare not, wait vpon I would, Like the poore Cat i' th' Addage. 1611― Wint. T. v. i. 142 Infirmitie (Which waits vpon worne times). 1622J. Taylor (Water P.) Farew. Tower Bottles A 7, For 'tis a Maxim held in euery Nation, Great men are wayted on by Adulation. 1646Crashaw Steps to Temple 33 To them shee gave the first and fairest Beame That waited on her Birth. 1657Heylin Eccles. Vind. ii. iii. §6. 146 Prayer..being an action meerly moral, was notwithstanding to be waited on with such rites and gestures. 1692Prior Ode Imit. Hor. xi, Justice and Freedom on his Conquests wait. 1746Hervey Medit. (1818) 60 Her form was symmetry itself; every elegance breathed in her air; and all the graces waited on her motions. 1842S. Lover Handy Andy i, Disappointment waited on all affairs in which he bore a part. 1859Mill Liberty i. (1864) 2/2 Elective and responsible government became subject to the observations and criticisms which wait upon a great existing fact. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) V. 299 Retribution is the suffering which waits upon injustice.
†o. To support the opinion of. Obs.
1639Fuller Holy War iv. v. (1640) 175 The Master of the Sentences (waited on herein with other learned men) is of opinion, That [etc.].
†15. wait over ―. To watch over. Obs.
Cf. overwait v. (= supervise, Pecock).
1659Hammond Paraphr. Ps. lxxviii. 52 His..providence..continually waited over them, and provided supplies for all their wants.
†16. wait to ―. To keep watch upon, attend carefully to. Obs.
c1440York Myst. xxxiii. 253 Sirs, waites to þer wightis þat no wiles be wrought. c1449Pecock Repr. iii. xviii. 405 And skile whi al this is trewe may be perceyued weel ynowȝ of a diligent considerer, waiting weel to ech word which is now bifore here seid. 1508–13Bk. Keruynge in Babees Bk. (1868) 270 And wayte well to y⊇ sewer how many dysshes be couered.
III. 17. Comb.: † wait-gleed [= OF. gaite-tison], one who sits lazily watching the fire.
c1310in Wright Lyric P. xv. 47 Me calleth me fulle flet, ant waynoun wayte-glede.
▸ waitstaff n. chiefly N. Amer. the staff employed as waiters and waitresses in a restaurant (with sing. or pl. concord).
1981Washington Post 11 Jan. k52 (advt.) We are looking for good people to train for the following positions: Cooks Prep Dishwashers..*Waitstaff [etc.]. 1994Minnesota Monthly May 61/2 Desserts and pasta don't always click, but the sharp wait staff seldom misses. 2002E. J. Ridley in R. R. Sims Changing the Way we manage Change vii.135 Waitstaff were given communications training.
▪ III. † wait, v.2 Obs.
Also 4 weyte, waite, wayte.
[app. a. ON. veita to show or do (kindness, etc.), less frequently to do (an ill turn), = OHG. weizen:—OTeut. type *waitjan, f. *wait- abl.-var. of *wit-: see wit v. Confused with wait v.1: see await v. 2.]
1. trans.
a. With thing as direct obj. and dative of person: To show (unkindness) to, to put (disgrace, suffering, etc.) on.
b. In similar sense, but with changed construction: To treat (a person) with (unkindness, cruelty, etc.), to affect with (disgrace, suffering, etc.).
a.1303R. Brunne Handl. Synne 5987 Þeft he wyl vpon hym wyte, Or ouþer skaþe he wyl hym weyte. c1330Arth. & Merl. (Kölbing) 352 Ac ferst þai sworen him an oþ, Þai schuld him neuer waite loþ. c1350Will. Palerne 148 He..þouȝt..he wold..wayte hire sum wicked torn. Ibid. 4051 Þat no burn nere so bold..to waite þe werwolf no maner schaþe. c1400Rom. Rose 3938 Therfore close I shall the weie Fro hem that..come to wayte me vilonye. c1450Erle Tolous 296 Certys hyt were a traytory, For to wayte hym velany. 1450Rolls of Parlt. V. 183/2 Ye shall not shewe nor wayte..noo malice..to any persone. 1548Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Matt. iv. 23–5 Sum came for malice with a mynde to wayte displeasure. 1601Holland Pliny x. lxxiv. I. 308 The bird ægithus, (the least in manner of all others) waiteth the Asse a shrewd turne.
b.a1300Cursor M. 4330 Sco waited him wit a werr turn. 1303R. Brunne Handl. Synne 4186 Whan þys Iudas..weytede Ihesu with tresun. c1320Sir Tristr. 2175 Meriadok wiþ ille Waited hem ful neiȝe Of her dede. c1330R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 7122 For þou art no knyght of armes, Þe more þey wayte þis lond wyþ harmes. 1352Minot Poems i. 64 Ay er þai boune To wait Ingland with sorow and schame. a1400Sir Perc. 99 Was noȝte the rede knyghte so rathe For to wayte hym with skathe. c1430Syr Tryam. 101 Yf ye be so hardy To wayte me wyth velanye. c1470Henry Wallace viii. 900 We sall be bundyn yow to,..nocht efftyr to wait yow with na ill. c1475Rauf Coilȝear 913 ‘Sa thriue I’, said the Sarazine, ‘..Quha waitis the Cristin with cair, my cusingis ar thay’. 15..Murning Maiden 81 in Maitl. Fol. MS. (S.T.S.) I, And heir to ȝow my treuth I plycht That I sall nowder day nor nycht No wyld beist wait with wrang. 1581Satir. Poems Reform. xliii. 83 Did sho not wait him with sic foule inuy.
2. Comb. wait-scathe (as a nickname or quasi-proper name), a perpetrator of mischief.
1481Caxton Reynard xxviii. (Arb.) 70 Ther is prentout, wayte scathe, and other of my frendis and alyes. a1500Henryson Fox & Wolf 54 Freir Wolf Waitskaith.
▪ IV. wait
obs. and dial. f. wet, wite, wot. |