waitingn.1
/ˈweɪtɪŋ/ The action of wait v.1 in various senses.† a. A lying in wait, ambush. Also waiting for. Also figurative. Obsolete.† b. Watching, observation. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > hostile action or attack > [noun] > hostile lying in wait > a lying in wait or ambush
waitingc1200
spyc1380
settingc1430
watch?a1475
wait1533
stale1557
ambush1573
imboscata1595
stand1616
belaying1677
c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 193 Shrudeð eow mid godes wapne, and werieð eow wið defles waitinge.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 15 Zuo heþ þe dyeuel diverse maneres of waytinges.
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 513/2 Waytynge to don harme, insidie.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) Acts xii. 11 The lorde hath..delyvered me..from all the waytynge fore of the people of the iewes.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > seeing or looking > [noun] > observing or watching
waiting1377
spialc1480
vizying1552
searchant1635
observe1830
outwatch1866
spotting1906
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. ii. 89 Lecherye..As in werkes and in wordes and waitynges with eies.
c1430 Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 4560 But he perceiued hir noo thing From the toure of hir wayting.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) Luke xvii. f. cv The kyngdom of God commeth not with waytingefore.
c. Expectation; remaining stationary or quiescent in expectation of something. in waiting (predicatively): in a state of expectancy, remaining in one place or condition so as to be ready for some expected event: = waiting present participle.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > expectation, waiting > [noun]
biding1340
expectation1524
await1538
tarriance1561
tendance1591
expectance1592
expectancy1592
attendance1597
awaiting1607
attendancy1646
waiting1743
sitting out1838
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > expectation, waiting > waiting [phrase]
on (also upon) the reserve1655
to watch the clock?1705
in waiting1769
waiting in the wings1876
1557 Bible (Whittingham) 2 Thess. iii. 5 The Lord guyde your hearts to the loue of God, and the weating for of Christe.
1743 T. Jones in Buccleuch MSS (Hist. MSS Comm.) (1899) I. 402 After 24 hours' waiting, the troops were obliged to retire.
1769 H. Brooke Fool of Quality IV. xvii. 223 While the coach was in waiting, and they all stood on the hill.
1818 Ld. Byron Let. 17 July (1976) VI. 60 I am still in waiting for Hanson's Clerk—but luckily not at Geneva.
1853 C. Dickens Bleak House xxiii. 227 I thought..I would ask Richard to be in waiting for me at the coach-office, that we might have a little talk together.
1885 J. Payn Talk of Town II. 147 A closed carriage, well appointed, was at the door, in waiting for her, and they took their seats.
1889 R. Bridges Growth of Love lxiii I abide and abide, as if more stout and tall My spirit would grow by waiting like a tree.
d. Attendance upon a superior.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > service > servant > retainer or follower > [noun] > one who waits in the presence of superior > action or condition of
attendancea1466
waiting1568
1568 A. Scott Poems (1896) 79 xxvi. 61 Thay wald haif wating on alway, But gwerdoun, genȝeild, or regaird.
1774 J. Bryant New Syst. (new ed.) I. 102 Camillus had the name of Hermes from the similarity of his office, which was waiting upon the Gods.
e. Official attendance at court; one's period or term of such attendance. in waiting: on duty, in attendance (said e.g. of a maid of honour, a lord- or lady-in-waiting, a court official).For Groom in waiting at groom n.1 4, lady-in-waiting n., lord in waiting n. at lord n. and int. Phrases 4g, see the first element.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > service > servant > personal or domestic servant > attendant or personal servant > in attendance [phrase]
in waiting?1697
society > authority > subjection > service > servant > personal or domestic servant > attendant or personal servant > [noun] > lord-in-waiting > period of attendance of
waiting?1697
wait1884
?1697 J. Lewis Mem. Duke of Glocester (1789) 24 When the Princess asked him, who taught him so? he said, Lewis; then, said her Highness, Lewis shall be turned out of waiting.
1705 N. Luttrell Diary in Brief Hist. Relation State Affairs (1857) V. 620 The dutchesse of St. Albans being made one of the ladies of the bedchamber to the queen..begun her first waiting on Monday.
1726 J. Swift Gulliver I. ii. iii. 50 His Majesty sent for three great Scholars who were then in their weekly waiting (according to the Custom in that Country).
1730 R. Gale in W. C. Lukis Family Mem. W. Stukeley (1882) I. 235 Lady Pembroke is in waiting at Windsor.
1765 Earl of Coventry in J. H. Jesse G. Selwyn & his Contemp. (1843) I. 402 The letter I had from Lord March..offering to take my waiting the first of next month, in exchange of his own, which is not till the 29th.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. iv. 433 The prelates who were in waiting had from the first exhorted him to prepare for his end.
1912 Mrs. H. Wyndham Corr. Sarah Lady Lyttelton xi. 285 This is the last letter of interest during Lady Lyttelton's first waiting.
Compounds
C1. attributive. Consisting of, or characterized by, waiting (in various senses of the verb wait v.1). Sometimes hyphenated with the noun qualified.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > expectation, waiting > [adjective] > characterized by
waiting1553
wait and see1719
expectant1803
1553 R. Eden tr. S. Münster Treat. Newe India sig. Fiiij [They] distribute their wayting dayes after this order.
1740 tr. C. de F. de Mouhy Fortunate Country Maid II. 339 I had hired a Waiting Jobb, by the Month.
1903 Times 6 May 14/3 Consumers..contend..that a waiting policy may bring some relaxation in values.
1912 Times 19 Oct. 5/2 Rumania will..order the mobilization of these Army Corps, abandoning her waiting attitude.
C2. Intended to be used or occupied while waiting; also waiting-room n.
waiting-chamber n.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > room > room by type of use > [noun] > waiting room
waiting-chamber?a1562
void room1577
waiting-room1683
waiting-lobby1837
salle des pas perdus1839
salle d'attente1863
?a1562 G. Cavendish Life Wolsey (1959) 69 The first waytyng chamber was hanged wt fynne Arras.
1912 Bodley Card. Manning 19 For Newman the Oriel Common-room was a home. For Manning the Merton Common-room was an unfamiliar waiting-chamber on the road to a profession.
waiting-lobby n.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > room > room by type of use > [noun] > waiting room
waiting-chamber?a1562
void room1577
waiting-room1683
waiting-lobby1837
salle des pas perdus1839
salle d'attente1863
1837 Civil Engineer & Architect's Jrnl. 1 7/1 By suspending them in the waiting-lobbies, the impatient moments of parties might be close occupied.
C3. Special combinations.† waiting board n. Obsolete = waiting salver n.† waiting salver n. Obsolete a tray intended to be carried by one waiting at table.† waiting Sunday n. Obsolete ? a Sunday on which the town-council publicly attended the mayor to church.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > serving food > [noun] > utensils for serving > serving-plate or -tray
trayOE
chargerc1305
service plate1548
venison dish1567
venison plate1567
fruit-trencher1642
salver1661
server1677
voider1677
waiting salver1714
tureen1727
waiter1738
waiting board1770
plateau1790
traylet1825
breakfast-traya1865
cheese board1916
thali1969
charger1984
1770 Lady M. Coke Jrnl. 19 June (1892) III. 247 I bought tea, fans, japan waiting board, walking sticks, &c.
waiting game n. used to describe the tactics of a player who abstains from attempting to secure advantages in the earlier part of the game, with a view to more effective action at a later stage; also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > a suitable time or opportunity > untimeliness > delay or postponement > [noun] > delaying tactics
ambage1546
stall off1819
delaying tactic1867
waiting race1868
waiting game1890
foot-dragging1947
1890 Times 27 Dec. 9/1 The best policy seems to dictate a waiting game.
1914 Eng. Hist. Rev. Apr. 256 The precarious health of Elizabeth..made it desirable to play a waiting game in the east and to shower blows on Bohemia and Moravia.
waiting list n. a list of people waiting for appointments, selection for any purpose, or the next chance of obtaining something.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > expectation, waiting > [noun] > list of those waiting
waiting list1897
wait-list1960
1897 Outing 30 347/2 The Michaux Club is composed of two hundred members, with a large ‘waiting list’.
1916 A. Huxley Let. 5 Feb. (1969) 90 There is a huge waiting list for the better jobs on all the Govt. Depts.
1921 Tax Clerks' Jrnl. 4 387 The right to a place on the ‘waiting list’ for a permanent post.
1976 Times 23 Feb. 13/1 Local councils were able to do little to reduce over~long waiting lists.
waiting problem n. (also waiting move problem) Chess (see quots.).
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > board game > chess > [noun] > problems
jeopardyc1369
problem1817
Indian problem1846
mover1868
Indian1878
retractive problem1890
waiting problem1891
retractor1893
help-mate1897
sui1897
miniature1903
waiter1906
grab theme1909
fairy chess1914
King's (or Queen's) Indian1931
1891 J. Rayner Chess Probl. (ed. 2) 9 Waiting-move problems—i.e., those in which the first move would not lead to a mate if it were not that Black is forced to reply and thereby weaken his position.
1896 Chess Monthly May 280 There is another class of waiting problem which is usually found very interesting... A primary position which has every indication that White has but to linger without discouraging the mates as ‘set’, but..one of the mates has to be given up in exchange for another to be created.
1907 S. S. Blackburne Terms & Themes Chess Probl. 25 Block problem—Otherwise called a ‘Waiting Problem’ is one in which White's first move leads to mate after every reply of Black, in consequence of such reply.
1962 K. S. Howard One Hundred Years Amer. Two-move Chess Probl. 5 Another type [of problem]..was the complete block, or waiting-move problem, especially where some of the mating moves apparently set in the initial position were changed by the key, for which Brian Harley..coined the apt name mutate.
waiting race n. a race in which the superiority of the winner is designedly not displayed till near the end of the course; also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > a suitable time or opportunity > untimeliness > delay or postponement > [noun] > delaying tactics
ambage1546
stall off1819
delaying tactic1867
waiting race1868
waiting game1890
foot-dragging1947
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > horse racing > [noun] > types of racing > types of race
wild-goose race1594
wild goose chase1597
bell-course1607
Palio1673
stake1696
paddock course1705
handicap1751
by-match1759
pony race1765
give and take plate1769
sweepstake1773
steeplechase1793
mile-heat1802
steeple race1809
welter1820
trotting-race1822
scurry1824
walkover1829
steeple hunt1831
set-to1840
sky race1840
flat race1848
trot1856
grind1857
feeler1858
nursery1860
waiting race1868
horse-trot1882
selling plate1888
flying milea1893
chase1894
flying handicap1894
prep1894
selling race1898
point-to-point1902
seller1922
shoo-in1928
daily double1930
bumper1946
selling chase1965
tiercé1981
1868 H. Woodruff & C. J. Foster Trotting Horse Amer. xxxvi. 297 Tallman made a waiting-race of it, and pulled Flora back three lengths.
1883 M. E. Kennard Right Sort xx Mrs. Forrester will ride a waiting race throughout.
1885 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ At Bay vi. 98 You can do no good,—as they didn't find her within the first week it will just be a waiting race.
1886 Earl of Suffolk & Berkshire & W. G. Craven in Earl of Suffolk et al. Racing & Steeple-chasing (Badminton Libr. of Sports & Pastimes) 224 The style in which Buckle..particularly shone was in riding a waiting race... ‘None of your lying off and winning in the last stride for me’, would the owner of Euclid exclaim.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > serving food > [noun] > utensils for serving > serving-plate or -tray
trayOE
chargerc1305
service plate1548
venison dish1567
venison plate1567
fruit-trencher1642
salver1661
server1677
voider1677
waiting salver1714
tureen1727
waiter1738
waiting board1770
plateau1790
traylet1825
breakfast-traya1865
cheese board1916
thali1969
charger1984
1714 London Gaz. No. 5286/4 Two waiting Salvors.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > social event > large or public event > [noun] > others
waiting Sunday1767
job fair1966
launch1969
1767 in J. A. Picton City of Liverpool: Select. Munic. Rec. (1886) II. 197 The future dress..for the Aldermen..to be by them worn only on the Waiting Sundays and other public state days.
waiting time n. time spent waiting, spec. in Computing (see quot. 1962) or Work Study (see quot. 1979).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > expectation, waiting > [noun] > time spent waiting
sitting out1838
wait1855
waiting time1962
1962 Gloss. Terms Automatic Data Processing (B.S.I.) 85 Waiting time, of a store. The time interval between the instant the control unit calls for a transfer of data to or from the store and the instant the transfer commences.
1976 P. R. White Planning for Public Transport v. 115 Waiting time is a function of service frequency and thus is not affected directly by spacing.
1979 Gloss. Terms Work Study (B.S.I.) 16 Waiting time, the period of time for which an operator is available for production but is prevented from working.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
† waitingn.2
Obsolete.
Entertainment, feasting.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > social event > hospitality > [noun]
gesteningc1200
semblant1297
guestinga1300
harbergery1303
hospitalityc1384
harbergagec1386
cheerc1390
rehetc1390
waitinga1400
hostryingec1470
entreaty1525
entertainment1576
entertain1591
hostelity1593
hospitage1611
xenodochy1623
hospitation1863
entertaining1883
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 12544 Ai quen iosep was wont at weind, Til ani waiting wit sum frend, His suns war ai wit him bun.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3344 Ilk man gaue he [sc. Abraham's servant; Gen. xxiv. 53] sumkin thing, And batuel made fair waiting [Gött. gestning].
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
waitingadj.
/ˈweɪtɪŋ/ 1. That waits upon, or attends to, another; that acts as an attendant, or waiter. Often hyphenated with the qualified noun as in waiting-gentlewoman, waiting-lady, waiting-maid n., waiting-man n., waiting-woman n., etc.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > service > servant > personal or domestic servant > attendant or personal servant > [adjective] > attending upon a person
tendanta1387
attendant1393
waiting1538
attending1598
1538 in J. W. Clay North Country Wills (1908) I. 159 To every one of my wayting servauntes vj s. viij d. the pece.
1597 W. Shakespeare Richard III ii. i. 122 When your carters, or your waighting vassailes Haue done a drunken slaughter.
1598 J. Marston Scourge of Villanie iii. x. sig. H.viiiv If one should sew For Lesbias loue, hauing two daies to woe..& should imploy those twaine The favour of her wayting-wench to gaine, Were he not mad?
1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing ii. ii. 12 I thinke I told your lordship..how much I am in the fauour of Margaret, the waiting gentlewoman to Hero. View more context for this quotation
1620 tr. G. Boccaccio Decameron I. ii. vi. 47 This Gentleman..one especiall day.., with his wife, seruants, and waiting hounds [It. merely con suoi cani], wandred vp into the Iland.
1713 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. (1898) IV. 76 Her little waiting Dogg was got under her Clothes.
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones IV. x. ix. 78 Certain pecuniary Civilities, which are by Custom due to the Waiting-gentlewoman in all Love Affairs. View more context for this quotation
1829 W. Scott Anne of Geierstein II. ix. 296 That dressing my mistress is the only part of a waiting-lady's life that I have the least fancy for.
1861 G. Meredith Patriot Engin. in Poems 35 Why, there's the ale-house bench:..And there's my waiting-wench, As lissome as a hound.
1864 J. H. Burton Scot Abroad I. v. 268 It would, after all, have perhaps been more difficult to find waiting-boys who could speak English.
2. That waits for some person or thing; expectant; remaining stationary, or deferring action, expectantly.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > expectation, waiting > [adjective]
expecting1605
expectative1611
waiting1654
in wait1873
1654 in C. H. Firth Clarke Papers (1899) III. 12 The present effect is startling to all nacions round about, all in a waiteing frame where this cloud will light.
1703 N. Rowe Fair Penitent i. i Thy waiting Bride ev'n chides thee for delaying.
1720 A. Ramsay Rise & Fall of Stocks 24 As little bairns frae winnocks high Drap down saip-bells to waiting fry.
1896 Harper's Mag. Apr. 671/2 All noise and movement gradually ceased, and a waiting stillness followed which was solemn and impressive.
Derivatives
ˈwaitingly adv.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > [adverb]
expectedly1632
expectingly1677
expectantly1771
anticipatingly1851
waitingly1882
1882 C. E. Turner in Macmillan's Mag. Apr. 478/1 [She] lived waitingly and hopefully ‘on the eve’ of an active career.
1894 S. R. Crockett Lilac Sunbonnet 26 The Marrow minister..looked waitingly at the young man.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online June 2020).
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n.1c1200
n.2a1400adj.1538