Wicked, wik′ed,adj.evil in principle or practice: deviating from morality: sinful: ungodly: mischievous: (prov.) active, brisk.—n.(B.) a wicked person, (pl.) wicked persons collectively.—adv.Wick′edly.—n.Wick′edness.—Wicked Bible, an edition printed in 1632 in which the word 'not' was omitted in Exodus xx. 14.—The wicked one, the devil. [Orig. a pa.p. with the sense 'rendered evil' fromwikken, to make evil,wikke, bad; A.S.wicca, wizard.]
Wicken, wik′n,n.the mountain-ash or rowan-tree.—AlsoWick′y.
Wicker, wik′ėr,n.a small pliant twig or osier: wickerwork.—adj.made of twigs or osiers.—adj.Wick′ered, made of wicker: covered with wickerwork.—n.Wick′erwork, basketwork of any kind. [M. E.wiker—A.S.wicen, pa.p. ofwícan, to bend.]
Wicket, wik′et,n.a small gate: one of three upright rods bowled at in cricket: a batsman's stay at the wicket: the ground where the wickets are placed.—ns.Wick′et-door,-gate, a wicket;Wick′et-keep′er, in cricket, the fieldsman who stands immediately behind the wicket. [O. Fr.wiket(Fr.guichet), a dim. form, prob. from Ice.vik-inn, pa.p. ofvíkja, to move; cf. A.S.wícan, to bend.]
Widdershins,Widershins, &c. SeeWithershins.
Widdy, wid′i, provincial form ofwidowand ofwithy(seeWithe).
Wide, wīd,adj.extended far: having a considerable distance between: broad: distant: bulging, expanded: deviating, errant, wild.—n.wideness: in cricket, a ball that goes wide of the wicket, counting one to the batting side.—advs.Wīde,Wīde′ly.—adj.Wīde′-awake′, fully awake: on the alert: ready.—n.a kind of soft felt hat.—n.Wīde′awakeness.—adj.Wīde′-chapped, wide-mouthed.—v.t.and v.i,Wī′den, to make or grow wide or wider: (Shak.) to throw open.—ns.Wīde′ner, one who, or that which, widens: a kind of tool;Wīde′ness, width.—adjs.Wīde′-spread, diffused;Wīde′-stretched(Shak.), large;Wīde′-wa′tered, bordered or covered by wide waters.—n.Width, wideness, breadth. [A.S.wíd; Ice.víthr, Ger.weit.]
Widgeon,Wigeon, wij′on,n.a genus of Ducks having the bill shorter than the head, the legs short, the feet rather small, the wings long and pointed, and the tail wedge-shaped: a fool. [O. Fr.vigeon—L.vipio,vipionis, a small crane.]
Widow, wid′ō,n.a woman who has lost her husband by death.—v.t.to bereave of a husband: to strip of anything valued: (Shak.) to endow with a widow's right: to be widow to.—ns.Wid′ow-bench, a widow's share of her husband's estate besides her jointure;Wid′ow-bewitched′, a grass-widow;Wid′ow-bird, a corruption ofWhydah-bird;Wid′ower, a man whose wife is dead;Wid′owerhood;Wid′owhood, state of being a widow, or (rarely) of being a widower: (Shak.) a widow's right;Wid′ow-hun′ter, one who seeks to marry a widow for her money;Wid′ow-mā′ker, one who bereaves women of their husbands;Wid′ow's-cham′ber, the apparel and bedroom furniture of the widow of a London freeman, to which she was entitled;Wid′ow-wail, a dwarf shrub with pink, sweet-scented flowers, native to Spain and southern France.—Widow's lawn, a fine thin muslin;Widow's man, a fictitious person;Widow's silk, a silk fabric with dull surface, for mournings;Widow's weeds, the mourning dress of a widow. [A.S.widwe,wuduwe; Ger.wittwe, L.vidua, bereft of a husband, Sans.vidhavā.]
Wield, wēld,v.t.to use with full command: to manage: to use.—adj.Wiel′dable, capable of being wielded.—ns.Wiel′der;Wiel′diness.—adjs.Wield′less(Spens.), not capable of being wielded, unmanageable;Wiel′dy, capable of being wielded: manageable: dexterous, active.—Wield the sceptre, to have supreme command or control. [A.S.geweldan—wealdan; Goth.waldan, Ger.walten.]
Wiery, wē′ri,adj.(obs.) wet, marshy, moist. [A.S.wær, a pond.]
Wife, wīf,n.a woman: a married woman: the mistress of a house, a hostess—often in this sense 'goodwife.'—n.Wife′hood, the state of being a wife.—adjs.Wife′less, without a wife;Wife′-like,Wife′ly. [A.S.wíf; Ice.víf, Ger.weib; not conn. with weave.]
Wig, wig,n.an artificial covering of hair for the head, worn to conceal baldness, formerly for fashion's sake, as in the full-dressfull-bottomedform of Queen Anne's time, still worn by the Speaker and by judges, and the smallertie-wig, still represented by the judge's undress wig and the barrister's or advocate's frizzed wig: a judge. (ForBag-wig, seeBag.)—n.Wig′-block, a block or shaped piece of wood for fitting a wig on.—adj.Wigged, wearing a wig.—n.Wig′gery, false hair: excess of formality.—adj.Wig′less, without a wig.—n.Wig′-mā′ker, a maker of wigs. [Short forperiwig.]
Wig, wig,v.t.(coll.) to scold.—n.Wig′ging, a scolding. [Prob. derived from 'to snatch at one's wig,' to handle roughly.]
Wigan, wig′an,n.a stiff canvas-like fabric for stiffening shirts, borders, &c. [Wigan, the town.]
Wigeon. SeeWidgeon.
Wiggle, wig′l,v.i.(prov.) to waggle, wriggle.—n.a wiggling motion.—n.Wigg′ler, one who wriggles.
Wight, wīt,n.a creature or a person—used chiefly in sport or irony. [A.S.wiht, a creature, prob. fromwegan, to move, carry; Ger.wicht. Cf.Whit.]
Wight, wīt,adj.swift, nimble: courageous, strong.—adv.Wight′ly, swiftly, nimbly. [Ice.vígr, warlike—víg, war (A.S.wíg).]
Wigwag, wig′wag,v.i.to twist about, to signal by means of flags.—adj.twisting.—adv.to and fro.
Wigwam, wig′wam,n.an Indian hut. [Eng. corr. of Algonkin word.]
Wild, wīld,adj.frolicsome, light-hearted: being in a state of nature: not tamed or cultivated: uncivilised: desert: unsheltered: violent: eager, keen: licentious: fantastic: wide of the mark.—n.an uncultivated region: a forest or desert.—ns.Wīld′-ass, an Asiatic or African ass living naturally in a wild state;Wīld′-boar, a wild swine or animal of the hog kind.—adj.Wīld′-born, born in a wild state.—n.Wīld′-cat, the undomesticated cat.—adj.(U.S.) haphazard, reckless, unsound financially.—ns.Wīld′-cherr′y, any uncultivated tree bearing cherries, or its fruit;Wīld′-duck, any duck excepting the domesticated duck.—v.t.Wilder(wil′dėr),to bewilder.—v.i.to wander widely or wildly.—adv.Wil′deredly, in a wildered manner.—ns.Wil′dering, any plant growing wild, esp. one that has escaped from a state of cultivation;Wil′derment, confusion;Wil′derness, a wild or waste place: an uncultivated region: a confused mass: (Shak.) wildness;Wīld′-fire, a composition of inflammable materials: a kind of lightning flitting at intervals: a disease of sheep;Wīld′-fowl, the birds of the duck tribe: game-birds;Wīld′-fowl′ing, the pursuit of wild-fowl;Wīld′-goose, a bird of the goose kind which is wild or feral;Wīld′-goose-chase(seeChase);Wīld-hon′ey, the honey of wild bees;Wīld′ing, that which grows wild or without cultivation: a wild crab-apple.—adj.uncultivated.—adj.Wīld′ish, somewhat wild.—n.Wīld′-land, land completely uncultivated.—adv.Wīld′ly.—ns.Wīld′ness;Wīld′-oat, a tall perennial Old World grass.—adj.Wīld′-wood, belonging to wild uncultivated wood.—n.a forest.—Wild animals, undomesticated animals;Wild birds, birds not domesticated, esp. those protected at certain seasons under the Act of 1880;Wild hunt, the name given in Germany to a noise sometimes heard in the air at night, mostly between Christmas and Epiphany, as of a host of spirits rushing along, accompanied by the shouting of huntsmen and the baying of dogs—the 'Seven Whistlers' and 'Gabriel's Hounds' of our own north country;Wild shot, a chance shot.—Run wild, to take to loose living: to revert to the wild or uncultivated state;Sow wild oats(seeOat). [A.S.wild; prob. orig. 'self-willed,' from the root ofwill; Ger.wild.]
Wild, wīld, a variety ofweald.
Wildgrave, wīld′grāv,n.a German noble, whose office was connected with hunting. [Ger.wild, game,graf, count.]
Wile, wīl,n.a trick: a sly artifice.—v.t.to beguile, inveigle: coax, cajole: to make to pass easily or pleasantly (confused withwhile).—adj.Wile′ful, full of wiles. [A.S.wíl,wíle; Ice.vél,væl, a trick. Doubletguile.]
Will, wil,n.power of choosing or determining: volition: choice or determination: pleasure: command: arbitrary disposal: feeling towards, as in good or ill will: disposition of one's effects at death, the written document containing such.—v.i.to have a wish, desire: to resolve, be resolved: to be accustomed, certain, ready, or sure (to do, &c.)—used as an auxiliary, esp. in future constructions: to exercise the will: to decree: (B.) to be willing.—v.t.to wish, desire: to determine: to be resolved to do: to command: to dispose of by will: to subject to another's will, as in hypnotism:—pa.t.would.—adj.Wil′ful, governed only by one's will: done or suffered by design: obstinate: (Shak.) willing.—adv.Wil′fully.—n.Wil′fulness.—adj.Willed, having a will: brought under another's will.—n.Will′er, one who wishes, one who wills.—adjs.Will′ing, having the will inclined to a thing: desirous: disposed: chosen;Will′ing-heart′ed, heartily consenting.—adv.Will′ingly.—n.Will′ingness.—adj.Will′yard(Scot.), wilful: shy.—ns.Good′-will(seeGood);Ill′-will(seeIll).—At will, at pleasure;Conjoint,Joint,will, a testamentary act by two persons jointly in the same instrument;Have one's will, to obtain what one desires;Tenant at will, one who holds lands at the will of the owner;With a will, with all one's heart;Work one's will, to do exactly what one wants. [A.S.willa, will—willan,wyllan, to wish; Goth.wiljan, Ger.wollen, L.velle.]
Willet, wil′et,n.a North American bird of the snipe family, belonging to the tattler group—alsoStone-curlew.
Williewaught, wil′i-wäht,n.(Scot.), forgude-willie waught. [SeeWaught.]
Will-o'-the-wisp, wil′-o-the-wisp′,n.the ignis-fatuus: any deluding person or thing.
Willow, wil′ō,n.any tree or shrub of the genus Salix, having slender, pliant branches: the wood of the willow: a cricket-bat.—v.t.to beat with willow rods, as in cleaning cotton, &c.—adj.Will′owed, abounding with, or containing, willows.—n.Will′ow-herb, a perennial herb (Epilobium) of the evening primrose family—alsoRose-bay,Bay-willow,FrenchorPersian willow.—adj.Will′owish, like a willow, slender and supple.—ns.Will′ow-machine′, a machine for extracting dirt from hemp, cotton, &c.—alsoWill′ow;Will′ow-moth, a common British night-moth;Will′ow-war′bler,-wren, a small European sylviine bird;Will′ow-weed, one of various species ofPolygonumor knot-weed: the purple loose-strife.—adj.Will′owy, abounding in willows: flexible, graceful.—n.Weep′ing-will′ow, a very ornamental species, a native of the East, much planted in Britain on account of its beautiful pendent twigs.—Bedford willow, a species whose bark is especially rich in salicin and in tannin;White, orHuntingdon,willow, the largest of British species, reaching a height of eighty feet. [A.S.welig; Low Ger.wilge, Dut.wilg.]
Will-worship, wil′-wur′ship,n.(B.) worship that is self-invented, superstitious observance without divine authority.
Willy, wil′i,n.(prov.) a willow basket.
Willy-nilly, wil′i-nil′i,adv.willing or unwilling.—adj.vacillating. [Willandnill.]
Wilt, wilt,v.i.to droop, lose energy.—v.t.to render limp or pithless. [Cf.Welk; cf. Ger.welk, withered.]
Wilt, wilt, 2d pers. sing. ofwill.
Wily, wī′li,adj.full of wiles or tricks: using craft or stratagem: artful: sly.—adv.Wī′lily.—n.Wī′liness, cunning.
Wimble, wim′bl,n.an instrument for boring holes, turned by a handle.—v.t.to bore through with such. [Scand., Dan.vimmel, auger; conn. with Old Dut.weme, a wimble, andwemelen, to whirl.]
Wimble, wim′bl,adj.(Spens.) active, nimble. [Sw.vimmel, giddy—vima, to be giddy; allied towhim.]
Wimple, wim′pl,n.a hood or veil folded round the neck and face (still a part of a nun's dress): a flag.—v.t.to hide with a wimple: (Shak.) to hoodwink: to lay in folds.—v.i.to ripple: (Spens.) to lie in folds. [A.S.wimpel, a neck-covering; cf. Ger.wimpel, a pennon, Fr.guimpe, a nun's veil, Eng.gimp, a thin cloth for trimming.]
Win, win,v.t.to get by labour: to gain in contest: to allure to kindness, to gain: to achieve, effect: to attain: to induce: in mining, to sink down to a bed of coal: to obtain the favour of.—v.i.to gain the victory: to gain favour: (prov.) to make one's way, to succeed in getting:—pr.p.win′ning;pa.t.andpa.p.won (wun).—n.a victory, success.—ns.Win′ner;Win′ning, the act of one who wins: that which is won (usually inpl.): a shaft or pit to open a bed of coal.—adj.influencing: attractive.—adv.Win′ningly.—ns.Win′ningness;Win′ning-post, the goal of a race-course.—Win by a head, to win very narrowly;Win in a canter, to win easily, as it were at an easy gallop;Win on,upon, to gain upon, to obtain favour with;Win, orGain,one's spurs, to earn one's knighthood by valour on the field, hence to gain recognition or reputation by merit of any kind. [A.S.winnan, to suffer, to struggle; Ice.vinna, to accomplish, Ger.gewinnen, to win.]
Win, win,v.t.(Scot.) to dry by exposure to the wind. [Wind.]
Wince, wins,v.i.to shrink or start back: to be affected acutely, as by a sarcasm: to be restive, as a horse uneasy at its rider.—n.Win′cer, one who winces. [O. Fr.guinchir,ganchir, to wince—Old High Ger.wenkan(Ger.wanken), to wince. Allied to Eng.wink, and Ger.winken, to nod.]
Wincey,Winsey, win′si,n.a cloth, plain or twilled, usually with a cotton warp and woollen filling—same as linsey-woolsey (q.v.).
Winch, winsh,n.the crank of a wheel or axle: a kind of hoisting machine: a dyer's reel suspended horizontally by the ends of its axis over the vat, so as to allow the cloth to descend into either compartment of the bath according as it is turned on the right or left.—AlsoWince. [A.S.wince, prob. orig. 'a bent handle,' and so akin to Eng.wink.]
Wind, wind (poet.wīnd),n.air in motion: breath: flatulence: anything insignificant: the wind instruments in an orchestra: air impregnated with scent: a hint or suggestion of something secret, publicity: (slang) a part of the body near the stomach: a disease of sheep in which the inflamed intestines are distended by gases.—v.t.(wīnd) to sound or signal by blowing: to scent: (wind) to expose to the wind: to drive hard, so as to put out of breath: to allow to recover wind:—pr.p.wīnd′ingandwind′ing;pa.p.wind′edand wound.—ns.Wind′age, the difference between the size of the bore of a gun and that of the ball or shell: the influence of the wind in deflecting a missile;Wind′bag, a person of mere words.—adjs.Wind′-bound, hindered from sailing by a contrary wind;Wind′-brō′ken, affected with convulsive breathing—of a horse;Wind′-chang′ing, fickle.—ns.Wind′-chart, a chart showing the direction of the wind;Wind′-chest, the box or reservoir that supplies compressed air to the pipes or reeds of an organ;Wind′-drop′sy, tympanites;Wind′-egg, an addle-egg, one soft-shelled or imperfectly formed;Wīnd′er, one who sounds a horn: one who, or that which, winds or rolls;Wind′fall, fruit blown off a tree by the wind: any unexpected money or other advantage.—adj.Windfall′en, blown down by wind.—ns.Wind′-flow′er, the wood-anemone;Wind′-fur′nace, any form of furnace using the natural draught of a chimney without aid of a bellows;Wind′-gall, a puffy swelling about the fetlock joints of a horse;Wind′-gauge, an instrument for gauging or measuring the velocity of the wind: an appliance fixed to a gun by means of which the force of the wind is ascertained so that allowance may be made for it in sighting;Wind′-gun, air-gun;Wind′-hō′ver, the kestrel.—adv.Wind′ily.—ns.Wind′iness;Wind′-in′strument, a musical instrument sounded by means of wind or by the breath.—adj.Wind′less, without wind.—ns.Wind′mill, a mill for performing any class of work in which fixed machinery can be employed, and in which the motive-power is the force of the wind acting on a set of sails;Wind′pipe, the passage for the breath between the mouth and lungs, the trachea.—adj.Wind′-rode(naut.), riding at anchor with head to the wind.—ns.Wind′rose, a graphic representation of the relative frequency of winds from different directions drawn with reference to a centre;Wind′row, a row of hay raked together to be made into cocks, a row of peats, &c., set up for drying;Wind′-sail(naut.), a wide funnel of canvas used to convey a stream of air below deck.—adj.Wind′-shā′ken, agitated by the wind.—ns.Wind′side, the side next the wind;Wind′-suck′er, the kestrel: a critic ready to fasten on any weak spot, however small or unimportant.—adjs.Wind′-swift, swift as the wind;Wind′-tight, air-tight.—adv.Wind′ward, toward where the wind blows from.—adj.toward the wind.—n.the point from which the wind blows.—adj.Wind′y.—A capful of wind, a slight breeze;Before the wind, carried along by the wind;Between wind and water, that part of a ship's side which is now in, now out of, the water owing to the fluctuation of the waves: any vulnerable point;Broken wind, a form of paroxysmal dyspnœa;Cast, orLay,an anchor to windward, to make prudent provision for the future;Down the wind, moving with the wind;Fight windmills, to struggle with imaginary opposition, as Don Quixote tilted at the windmill;Get one's wind, to recover one's breath;Get the wind of, to get on the windward side of;Get to windward of, to secure an advantage over;Get wind of, to learn about, to be informed of;Have the wind of, to be on the trail of;How the wind blows, orlies, the state of the wind: the position of affairs;In the wind, astir, afoot;In the wind's eye,In the teeth of the wind, right against the wind;Sail close to the wind, to keep the boat's head near enough to wind as to fill but not shake the sails: to be almost indecent;Second wind, new powers of respiration succeeding to the first breathlessness;Sow the wind and reap the whirlwind, to act wrongly and receive a crushing retribution. [A.S.wind; Ice.vindr, Ger.wind, L.ventus, Gr.aētēs, Sans.vāta, wind.]
Wind, wīnd,v.t.to turn: to twist: to coil: to haul or hoist, as by a winch: to encircle: to change: (Spens.) to weave.—v.i.to turn completely or often: to turn round something: to twist: to move spirally: to meander: to beat about the bush:—pr.p.wīnd′ing;pa.t.andpa.p.wound.—n.Wīnd′er, one who winds: an instrument for winding: a twisting plant.—adj.Wīnd′ing, curving, full of bends: twisted.—n.a turning: a twist.—n.Wīnd′ing-en′gine, a machine for hoisting.—adv.Wīnd′ingly.—ns.Wīnd′ing-machine′, a twisting or warping machine;Wīnd′ing-sheet, a sheet enwrapping a corpse: the dripping grease which clings to the side of a candle;Wīnd′-up, the close.—Wind a ship, to turn her about end for end;Wind up, to come to a conclusion: to tighten, to excite very much: to give new life to: to adjust for final settlement: (Shak.) to restore to harmony. [A.S.windan; Ger.winden, Ice.vinda, Goth.windan. Cf.Wend,Wander.]
Windlass, wind′las,n.a modification of the wheel and axle, used for raising weights, consisting of a revolving cylinder.—v.i.to use a windlass.—v.t.to hoist by means of such. [Skeat explains as a corruption, due to confusion with the succeeding word, of M. E.windas, a windlass—Ice.vindáss—vinda, to wind; Dut.windas.]
Windlass, wind′las,n.(Shak.) indirect, crafty action.—v.i.to take a round-about course. [Forwind-lace, a winding course; fromwind(n.) andlace, a twist.]
Windle, win′dl,n.an engine for turning: a dry measure. [A.S.windel—windan, to turn.]
Windlestraw, win′dl-straw,n.the stalk of various grasses. [A.S.windel, a woven basket,streów, straw.]
Window, win′dō,n.an opening in the wall of a building for air and light: the frame in the opening: a cover, lid.—v.t.to furnish with windows: (Shak.) to make rents in: (Shak.) to place in a window.—ns.Wind′ow-bar, a wooden or iron bar fitted into a window for security: (Shak.) lattice-work across a woman's stomacher;Win′dow-blind, a blind or screen for a window;Win′dow-bole(same asBole, 3);Win′dow-cur′tain, a curtain hung over a window, inside a room.—adj.Win′dowed, having a window or windows.—ns.Win′dow-frame, a frame or case which surrounds a window;Win′dow-gar′dening, the cultivation of plants indoors before a window, or in boxes fitted on the outside sill;Win′dow-glass, glass suitable for windows.—adj.Win′dowless, having no windows.—ns.Win′dow-pane, a square of glass set in a window;Win′dow-sash, a light frame in which panes of glass are set;Win′dow-screen, any device for filling the opening of a window;Win′dow-seat, a seat in the recess of a window;Win′dow-shade, a sheet covering the window when pulled out;Win′dow-sill, the flat piece of wood at the bottom of a window-frame.—Window tax, till 1851 a tax in Great Britain levied on windows of houses.—Blind window, a window space blocked up with masonry. [M. E.windowe—Ice.vindauga—vindr, wind,auga, eye.]
Windring, wīnd′ring,adj.(Shak.) winding.
Windsor, win′zor,adj.pertaining toWindsor, as inWind′sor-chair, a kind of strong, plain, polished chair, made entirely of wood;Wind′sor-soap, a kind of perfumed brown toilet-soap.
Wine, wīn,n.the fermented juice of the grape: a liquor made from other fruits: (fig.) intoxication: a wine-drinking, a wine-party.—ns.Wine′-bag, a wine-skin: a tippler;Wine′-bibb′er, a bibber or drinker of wine: a drunkard;Wine′-bibb′ing;Wine′-bis′cuit, a sweet biscuit intended to be served with wine;Wine′-cask, a cask for holding wine;Wine′-cell′ar, a cellar for storing wine.—adj.Wine′-col′oured, of the colour of red wine.—ns.Wine′-cool′er, a receptacle for cooling wine in bottles about to be served at table;Wine′-fat, the vat receiving the liquor from a wine-press;Wine′-glass, a small glass used in drinking wine;Wine′-glass′ful;Wine′-grow′er, one who cultivates a vineyard and makes wine;Wine′-meas′ure, an old English liquid measure, its gallon5⁄6of the gallon in beer-measure, containing 231 cubic inches—the standard United States gallon;Wine′-mer′chant, a merchant who deals in wine, esp. at wholesale;Wine′-par′ty, a drinking-party;Wine′-press, a machine in which grapes are pressed in the manufacture of wine;Wine′-skin, a skin for holding wine;Wine′-stone, crude argol;Wine′-tāst′er, one whose business it is to sample wines;Wine′-vault, a vaulted wine-cellar: (pl.) a place where wine is tasted or drunk.—Adam's wine, water;Rhine,Rhenish,wine, wine produced on the banks of theRhine, esp. hock;Spirit of wine, alcohol;White wine, Chablis, Sauterne, the wines of Germany—formerly Madeira and sherry. [A.S.wín; Goth,wein, Ger.wein; all from L.vinum; cog. with Gr.oinos.]
Wing, wing,n.the organ of a bird, or other animal or insect, by which it flies: flight, means of flying: anything resembling a wing, any side-piece, the side of a building, &c.: one of the longer sides of crown-works or horn-works in fortification: the flank corps or division of an army on either side: the ships on either extremity of a fleet ranged in line: (fig.) protection.—v.t.to furnish or transport with wings: to lend speed to: to supply with side-pieces: to bear in flight, to traverse by flying: to wound on the wing, to wound a person in arm or shoulder.—v.i.to soar on the wing.—adv.Wing′-and-wing′, the condition of a ship sailing before the wind with studding sails on both sides.—n.Wing′-case, the horny case or cover over the wings of some insects, as the beetle.—adj.Winged, furnished with wings: swift: wounded in the wing: lofty, sublime: alate, abounding in wings.—adv.Wing′edly, on or by wings.—adjs.Wing′-foot′ed, having wings on the feet, aliped;Wing′less, without wings.—ns.Wing′let, the bastard wing or alula of a bird: the pterygium of a weevil;Wing′-shell, a stromb: an aviculoid bivalve, a hammer-oyster: a wing-snail;Wing′-shoot′ing, the act or practice of shooting flying birds;Wing′-shot, a shot at a bird on the wing: one who shoots flying birds.—adj.shot in the wing, or while on the wing.—adj.Wing′y, having wings: soaring on wings.—Winged bull, a common form in Assyrian sculpture, symbolic of domination.—Make,Take,wing, to depart;On,Upon,the wing, flying, in motion: departing;On the wings of the wind, with the highest speed;Under one's wing, under one's protection. [Ice.vængr, a wing; Sw.vinge.]
Wink, wingk,v.i.to move the eyelids quickly: to give a hint by winking: to seem not to see, connive at (gener. withat): to flicker, twinkle, sparkle.—v.t.to close and open quickly.—n.act of winking: a hint given by winking.—ns.Wink′-a-peep, the scarlet pimpernel;Wink′er, one who winks: a horse's blinkers: (Shak.) an eye: the winking membrane of a bird's eye, the winking muscle: a small bellows in an organ, regulated by a spring, controlling variations of wind-pressure;Wink′ing, the act of winking.—adv.Wink′ingly.—Forty winks(coll.), a short nap;Like winking(slang), very rapidly;Tip one the wink, to wink to one as a sign of caution, or of mutual understanding, &c. [A.S.wincian(Ger.winken); akin to A.S.wancol, wavering.]
Winkle=Periwinkle(q.v.).
Winna, win′a, a Scotch form forwill not.
Winning, win′ing,adj.andn.—n.Win′ner.—adv.Win′ningly. [Win.]
Winnock, win′ok,n.(Scot.) a window.—AlsoWin′dock.
Winnow, win′ō,v.i.to separate the chaff from the grain by wind: to fan: to examine: to sift: to blow upon: (Milt.) to set in motion: (rare) to flap, flutter.—v.i.to separate chaff from grain.—n.a fan for winnowing.—ns.Winn′ower;Winn′owing;Winn′owing-fan,-machine′, a fan, machine, for winnowing. [A.S.windwian, to winnow.]
Winsey=Wincey(q.v.).
Winsome, win′sum,adj.cheerful: pleasant: attractive.—adv.Win′somely.—n.Win′someness. [A.S.wyn-sum, pleasant—wyn, joy (Ger.wonne).]
Winter, win′tėr,n.the cold season of the year: a year: any season of cheerlessness: the last corn of the harvest, a harvest festival.—adj.wintry.—v.i.to pass the winter.—v.t.to feed, or to detain, during winter.—ns.Win′ter-app′le, an apple that keeps well in winter, or that does not ripen till winter;Win′ter-bar′ley, a kind of barley which is sown in autumn.—adj.Win′ter-beat′en(Spens.), beaten or injured by the cold of winter.—ns.Win′ter-berr′y, a name given to several shrubs of the genusIlex, growing in the eastern parts of North America;Win′ter-bloom, the witch-hazel;Win′ter-bourne, an intermittent spring in the chalk-districts;Win′ter-cherr′y, one of theSolanaceæ, a plant with edible red berries—also called in the United StatesStrawberry-tomatoes: the Balloon-vine, having large triangular, inflated fruit.—adj.Win′ter-clad, warmly clad.—ns.Win′ter-clov′er, the partridge-berry;Win′ter-cress, a cruciferous plant, cultivated for winter salad;Win′ter-crop, a crop that will endure the winter, or that yields fodder in winter-time.—adj.Win′tered, having seen many winters: exposed to winter: (Shak.) worn in winter.—ns.Win′ter-fall′ow, a fallow made in the winter;Win′ter-gar′den, an ornamental garden for winter;Win′ter-green, a plant of genusPyrola, also ofChimaphila: a plant of genusGualtheria, whose oil is an aromatic stimulant, used chiefly in flavouring confectionery and syrups.—v.t.Win′ter-ground(Shak.), to protect, as a plant, from the inclemency of winter.—ns.Win′ter-lodge,-lodg′ment, the hibernacle of a plant.—adj.Win′terly, cheerless.—n.pl.Win′ter-quar′ters, the quarters of an army during winter: a winter residence.—ns.Win′ter-sett′le, an old word for a winter dwelling;Win′ter-tide, winter:Win′ter-wheat, wheat sown in autumn;Win′triness.—adjs.Win′try,Win′tery, resembling, or suitable to, winter: stormy. [A.S.winter; Ger.winter; of uncertain origin; not conn. withwind.]
Winter, win′tėr,n.an appliance for fixing on the front of a grate, to keep warm a tea-kettle or the like.
Winter's-bark, win′tėrs-bärk,n.a stimulant, aromatic, and tonic bark, named from CaptainWinter, who first brought it from the Strait of Magellan in 1579.
Wintle, win′tlv.i.(Scot.) to stagger.—n.a stagger.
Winy, wī′ni,adj.having the qualities of, or resembling, wine: influenced by wine.
Winze, winz,n.(Scot.) a curse. [Wish.]
Winze, winz,n.in mining, a small ventilating shaft between two levels. [Prob. related towinnow.]
Wipe, wīp,v.t.to clean by rubbing (withaway,off,out): cleanse, clear away: to apply solder to with a piece of cloth or leather: (coll.) to beat.—n.act of cleaning by rubbing: a blow: a scar: (slang) handkerchief.—ns.Wī′per;Wī′ping, the act of wiping: a thrashing. [A.S.wípian; cf. Low Ger.wiep, a wisp.]
Wire, wīr,n.a thread of metal: the metal thread used in telegraphy, &c.: the string of an instrument: the slender shaft of the plumage of certain birds: a telegram: (slang) a clever pickpocket: (Shak.) the lash, scourge.—adj.formed of wire.—v.t.to bind, snare, or supply with wire: to keep the ends of a broken bone together with wire: to send by telegraph.—v.i.to telegraph.—n.Wire′-bridge, a suspension-bridge.—adj.Wired, having wiry feathers.—n.Wire′-dan′cer, a performer on a tight wire.—v.t.Wire′-draw, to draw into wire: to draw or spin out to a great length: to strain or stretch the meaning of anything.—ns.Wire′drawer;Wire′drawing.—adj.Wire′drawn, spun out into needless fine distinctions.—ns.Wire′-gauze, a kind of stiff close fabric made of fine wire;Wire′-grass, a kind of fine meadow-grass;Wire′-guard, wire-netting placed in front of a fire;Wire′-heel, a defect or disease of the foot;Wire′-man, one who puts up or takes care of wires;Wire′-net′ting,Wire′work, a texture of wire woven in the form of a net;Wire′-pull′er, one who exercises an influence felt but not seen, as if the actors were his puppets and he pulled the wires that move them: an intriguer;Wire′-pull′ing;Wī′rer, a snarer;Wire′-rope, a rope of twisted iron or steel.—adj.Wire′-sewed,-stitched, sewed with wire instead of thread.—ns.Wire′way, transportation by means of wires;Wire′work, articles made of wire;Wire′worker;Wire′working;Wire′-worm, a name given to the larvæ of click-beetles, from their slenderness and uncommon hardness, very injurious to root, grain, and fodder crops.—adj.Wire′wove, denoting a fine glazed quality of writing-paper.—adv.Wī′rily.—n.Wī′riness, the state of being wiry.—adj.Wī′ry, made of, or like, wire: flexible and strong.—Wire away, orin, to act with vigour.—Pull the wires(seeWire-pullerabove). [A.S.wír; Ice.vírr; perh. conn. with L.viriæ, bracelets.]
Wis, wis, v. (in the formI wis) erroneously used as 'I know.' [I wis is the M. E. adv.i-wis—A.S.ge-wis, certainly; cf. Ger.ge-wiss.]
Wisard, wiz′ard,n.Same asWizard.
Wisdom, wiz′dum,n.quality of being wise: judgment: right use of knowledge: learning: (B.) skilfulness, speculation, spiritual perception: the apocryphal Book of the Wisdom of Solomon (seeApocrypha).—n.Wis′dom-tooth, a large double back-tooth, so called because it appears late, when people are supposed to have arrived at the age of wisdom. [A.S.wísdóm, wisdom. Cf.Wise.]
Wise, wīz,adj.having wit or knowledge: able to make use of knowledge well: judging rightly: discreet: learned: skilful: dictated by wisdom: containing wisdom: pious, godly.—adjs.Wise′-heart′ed, having wisdom: prudent;Wise′-like(Scot.), sensible, judicious: looking as if capable of playing one's part well.—n.Wise′ling, one who pretends to be wise.—adv.Wise′ly.—n.Wise′ness.—Wise woman, a witch: (Scot.) a midwife.—Never the wiser, still in ignorance. [A.S.wís; Ger.weise; from root ofwit.]
Wise, wīz,v.t.(Scot.) to guide in a certain direction, to incline.
Wise, wīz,n.way, manner.—In any wise,In no wise, in any way, in no way;On this wise, in this way. [A.S.wíse, orig. wiseness; Ger.weise; akin towise(1) andwit. Doubletguise.]
Wiseacre, wī′zā-kėr,n.one who pretends to wisdom without grounds, a simpleton quite unconscious of being such. [Perh. through the medium of Dutch from Ger.weissager, a soothsayer,weissagen, to foretell—Old High Ger.wīzago, a prophet.]
Wish, wish,v.i.to have a desire: to long (so in B.): to be inclined.—v.t.to desire or long for: to ask: to invoke: (Shak.) to recommend.—n.desire, longing: thing desired: expression of desire.—n.Wish′er.—adj.Wish′ful, having a wish or desire: eager.—adv.Wish′fully.—ns.Wish′fulness;Wish′ing-bone,Wish′-bone, the furcula or merrythought of a fowl;Wish′ing-cap, a cap by wearing which one obtains everything he wishes. [A.S.wýscan—wúsc, a wish; Ger.wünschen, Sw.önska.]
Wishtonwish, wish′ton-wish,n.the North American prairie-dog. [Amer. Ind.]
Wish-wash, wish′-wosh,n.(coll.) anything wishy-washy.—adj.Wish′y-wash′y, thin and weak, diluted, feeble. [Formed fromwash.]
Wisket, wis′ket,n.(prov.) a basket.
Wisp, wisp,n.a small bundle of straw or hay: a small broom: will-o'-the-wisp: a disease affecting the feet of cattle.—v.t.to rub down with a wisp.—adj.Wis′py, like a wisp. [M. E.wisp,wips, conn. withwipe; cf. Low Ger.wiep, Norw.vippa, a wisp.]
Wist, wist,v.pa.t.(B.) knew. [A.S.wiste,pa.t.ofwitan, 3d pers. sing. pr.t.wát, to know. Cf.Wit.]
Wistaria, wis-tā′ri-a,n.a genus of leguminous plants, some of the species amongst the most magnificent ornamental climbers known in English gardens, named from the American anatomist, CasparWistar(1761-1818).
Wistful, wist′fōōl,adj.hushed: full of thought: thoughtful: earnest: eager, wishful, longing.—adv.Wist′fully.—n.Wist′fulness.—adv.Wist′ly(Shak.), silently, earnestly. [Most prob. forwhistful,whistly—i.e. silently; and not conn. withwish. Skeat, however, makes it a substitution forwishful, confused withwisly=certainly—Ice.viss, certain (distinct from, yet allied to,víss, wise).]
Wistiti=Ouistiti(q.v.)—Wis′tit(obs.).
Wit, wit,v.i.to know:—pr.t.1st pers. sing.Wot; 2d,Wost(erroneouslyWot′test); 3d,Wot(erroneouslyWot′teth):—pl.1st, 2d, 3d,Wot;pa.t.Wist(erroneouslyWot′ted);pr.p.Wit′ting,Weet′ing(erroneouslyWot′ting);pa.p.Wist.—To do to wit, to cause to know;To wit, that is to say—the A.S. gerundtó witanne. [A.S.witan, to know (pr.t. icwát, þuwást, hewát, pl.witon; pa.t.wiste—alsowisse, pl.wiston, pa.p.wist); Goth.witan, Ger.wissen; cf. L.vidēre, Gr.idein.]
Wit, wit,n.understanding: a mental faculty (chiefly inpl.): the power of combining ideas with a ludicrous effect, the result of this power: ingenuity: (rare) imagination: (obs.) information.—adj.Wit′less, wanting wit or understanding: thoughtless.—adv.Wit′lessly.—ns.Wit′lessness;Wit′ling, one who has little wit: a pretender to wit;Wit′-mong′er, a poor would-be wit;Wit′-snap′per(Shak.), one who affects wit or repartee.—adj.Wit′ted, having wit or understanding.—n.Witticism(wit′i-sizm),a witty remark: a sentence or phrase affectedly witty.—adv.Wit′tily.—n.Wit′tiness.—adv.Wit′tingly, knowingly: by design.—adj.Wit′ty, possessed of wit: amusing: droll: sarcastic: (B.) ingenious: (Shak.) wise, discreet.—v.i.Wit′wanton, to indulge in irreverent wit.—At one's wits' end, utterly perplexed;Live by one's wits, to live in a haphazard manner by any shift;The five wits, the five senses. [A.S.wit, from the verb above.]
Wit, wit,n.a person of understanding or judgment, esp. a person who has a keen perception of the ludicrous and can express it neatly. [Perh. a use of the preceding word; others trace through A.S.wita,gewita, a counsellor—witan, to know.]
Witan, wit′an,n.pl.members of theWitenagemot. [Pl. of A.S.wita, a man of knowledge. See preceding words.]
Witch, wich,n.a woman regarded as having supernatural or magical power and knowledge through compact with the devil or some minor evil spirit: a hag, crone: (coll.) a fascinating young girl: (Shak.) a wizard.—v.t.to bewitch, to effect by means of witchcraft.—ns.Witch′craft, the craft or practice of witches: the black art, sorcery: supernatural power;Witch′-doc′tor, a medicine-man;Witch′ery, witchcraft: fascination;Witch′es'-broom, a popular name for the broom-like tufts of branches developed on the silver-fir, birch, cherry, &c. by means of an uredineous fungus;Witch′es'-but′ter, a dark-brown fungus (seeNostoc);Witch′es'-thim′ble, the sea-campion;Witch′-find′er, one whose business was to detect witches.—adj.Witch′ing, weird: fascinating.—adv.Witch′ingly.—ns.Witch′-knot, a knot, esp. in the hair, tied by means of witchcraft;Witch′-meal, the inflammable pollen of the club-moss.—adj.Witch′-ridd′en, ridden by witches.—n.Witch′-wife, a woman who practises witchcraft. [M. E.wicche(both masc. and fem.)—A.S.wicca(masc.), wicce (fem.), wizard, witch; prob. reduced fromwítega,wítiga,witga, a seer (Old High Ger.wīzago)—a supposed adj.wítig, seeing—wítan, to see, allied towitan, to know. For the change, cf.Orchard—A.S.ortgeard. Cf.WitandWicked.]
Witch,Witch-elm, wich,wich′-elm,n.the common wild elm—alsoWitch′-hā′zel.—n.Witch′en, the mountain-ash or rowan. [A.S.wice, the service-tree—wícan, to bend.]
Wit-cracker, wit′-krak′ėr,n.(Shak.) a joker, jester.
Wite, wīt,v.t.(Spens.) to blame, to reproach.—n.(Spens.) blame, reproach.—adj.Wite′less(Spens.), blameless. [A.S.wítan, to punish, fine (Ice.víta); ult. conn. withwitan, to know.]
Witenagemot, wit′e-na-ge-mōt′,n.the supreme council of England in Anglo-Saxon times, composed of the bishops, the ealdormen of shires, and a number of the king's friends and dependents, the king's thanes. It was thus purely a council of royal officers and territorial magnates, not at all resembling the representative House of Commons. [A.S.witena gemót—wita, a wise man,gemót, a meeting.]
With,n.Same asWithe.
With, with,prep.denoting nearness, agreement, or connection: by: in competition or contrast: on the side of: immediately after: among: possessing: in respect of, in the regard of: like: by, by means of, through: showing, using: from.—adv.Withal′, with all or the rest: likewise: moreover.—prep.an emphatic form of with.—With that, thereupon. [A.S.wið; Ice.við, Ger.wider. It absorbed the A.S.mid, with (Ger.mit).]
Withdraw, with-draw′,v.t.to draw back or away: to take back: to recall.—v.i.to retire: to go away.—ns.Withdraw′al,Withdraw′ment;Withdraw′er;Withdraw′ing-room, a room used to retire into: a drawing-room. [Pfx.with-, against, anddraw.]
Withe, with, or wīth,Withy,with′y,n.a flexible twig, esp. of willow: a band of twisted twigs: an elastic handle to a tool to save the hand from the shock of blows: a boom-iron.—adj.Withy(with′iorwī′thi), made of withes: like withes, flexible. [A.S.withthe, a form ofwithig, a withy; Ice.vidhir, Ger.weide, willow.]
Wither, with′ėr,v.i.to fade or become dry: to lose freshness: to shrink: waste.—v.t.to cause to dry up: to cause to decay, perish, waste.—adj.With′ered, dried up.—n.With′eredness.—adj.With′ering, blasting, blighting, scorching.—n.With′ering-floor, the drying-floor of a malt-house.—adv.With′eringly. [A.S.wedrian, to expose to weather.]
Withers, with′ėrz,n.pl.the ridge between the shoulder-bones of a horse and behind the root of the neck.—adj.With′er-wrung, injured in the withers. [A.S.wither, against, an extension ofwith, against.]
Withershins,Widdershins,with′-,wid′ėr-shinz,adv.(Scot.) in the contrary direction—to the left, contrary to the course of the sun, in the wrong way.—AlsoWidd′ersins,Widd′ersinnis. Cf. the Gaelicdeiseil, to the right, going round in the way of the sun. [Widder-is the Ice.vithra, against (A.S.wither, Ger.wieder, Dut.weder);Sinsis the adverbial genitive, from Ice.sinni, walk, movement, originally journey, cog. with A.S.síth, Goth.sinths, journey, Old High Ger.sind.]
Withhold, with-hōld′,v.t.to hold back: to keep back.—v.i.to stay back:—pa.t.andpa.p.Withheld′(arch. pa.p.Withhol′den).—ns.Withhol′der;Withhold′ment. [Pfx.with-, against, andhold.]
Within, with-in′,prep.in the inner part: inside: in the reach of: not going outside of.—adv.in the inner part: inwardly: at home.—Within call,hail, not too far to hear a call, hail. [A.S.wiðinnan—wið, against, with,innan, in.]
Without, with-owt′,prep.outside or out of: beyond: not with: in absence of: not having: except: all but.—adv.on the outside: out of doors.—conj.except.—adj.Without′-door(Shak.), being out of doors.—prep.Without′en(Spens.), without.—Without book, on no authority;Without distinction, indiscriminately.—From without, from the outside. [A.S.wiðútan—wið, against,útan, outside.]
Withstand, with-stand′,v.t.to stand against: to oppose or resist:—pa.t.andpa.p.Withstood′.—n.Withstand′er.
Withwind, with′wīnd,n.the bindweed.
Witloof, wit′lōf,n.a kind of chicory with large roots. [Dut.]
Witness, wit′nes,n.knowledge brought in proof: testimony of a fact: that which furnishes proof: one who sees or has personal knowledge of a thing: one who attests.—v.t.to have direct knowledge of: to see: to give testimony to: to show: (Shak.) to foretell.—v.i.to give evidence.—ns.Wit′ness-box, the enclosure in which a witness stands when giving evidence in a court of law;Wit′nesser.—With a witness(Shak.), to a great degree. [A.S.witnes, testimony—witan, to know.]
Wittol, wit′ol,n.one who knows his wife's faithlessness, and submits to it.—adj.Witt′olly(Shak.), like a wittol or contented cuckold. [Formerly alsowittal,wittold, a particular use ofwitwal, the popinjay; cf. the similar allusions to thecuckoo, from which grew the wordcuckold.]
Witwal, wit′wawl,n.the popinjay, or green woodpecker, the greater spotted woodpecker. [Var. ofwoodwale, a woodpecker.]
Wive, wīv,v.t.to take for a wife: to provide with a wife.—v.i.to marry.—n.Wive′hood(Spens.), wifehood. [A.S.wífian—wíf, wife.]
Wivern, wī′vern,n.Same asWyvern.
Wives, wīvz,pl.ofwife.
Wizard, wiz′ard,n.one who practises witchcraft or magic: (obs.) a wise man.—adj.with magical powers.—adv.Wiz′ardly, like a wizard.—n.Wiz′ardry, sorcery. [O. Fr.guiscart—Ice.vizkr(forvitskr), fromvita, to know.]
Wizen, wiz′n,Wizened,wiz′nd,adj.dried up: thin: shrivelled.—v.i.andv.t.to become dry, to make dry.—adj.Wiz′en-faced, having a thin, shrivelled face. [A.S.wisnian, to wither; cog. with Ice.visinn, wizened,visna, to wither.]
Wizier=Vizir.
Wo. Same asWoe.
Woad, wōd,n.a genus of cruciferous plants, whose few species are mostly natives of the countries around the Mediterranean—Dyer's woadyields a good and very permanent dye, but is now largely superseded by indigo.—adj.Woad′ed, dyed blue with woad. [A.S.wád; Ger.waid; L.vitrum.]
Wobble,Wobbler,Wobbling. SeeWabble.
Woden, wō′den,n.the Anglo-Saxon form of the Norse Odin.—n.Wō′denism, the worship of Woden.
Woe,Wo, wō,n.grief: misery: a heavy calamity: a curse: an exclamation of grief.—adj.sad, wretched.—adjs.Woe′begone,Wō′begone, beset with woe (seeBegone);Woe′ful,Wō′ful,Woe′some(Scot.Wae′some), sorrowful: bringing calamity: wretched.—advs.Woe′fully,Wō′fully.—ns.Woe′fulness,Wō′fulness.—adjs.Woe′-wea′ried,-worn, wearied, worn, with woe.—Woe worth the day(seeWorth).—In weal and woe, in prosperity and adversity. [A.S. (interj.)wá; Ger.weh; L.væ, Gr.ouai. Cf.Wail.]
Woiwode. SeeVoivode.
Wold, wōld,n.an open tract of country. [A.S.weald,wald, a wood, perh. ultimately conn. withwealdan, to possess, wield.]
Wolf, woolf,n.the common name of certain species of the genusCanis—including the ravenous Common Wolf, the Abyssinian Wolf, the Antarctic Wolf, the Maned Wolf, and the Prairie Wolf or Coyote: anything very ravenous: a greedy and cunning person: (obs.) a tuberculous excrescence: (mus.) a harsh discord heard in the organ, &c.:—pl.Wolves.—v.i.to hunt for wolves.—v.t.(slang) to devour ravenously.—ns.Wolf′-dog, a dog of large breed kept to guard sheep, esp. against wolves;Wol′fer, one who hunts wolves;Wolf′-fish, a fierce and voracious salt-water fish—called alsoSea-wolfandCat-fish;Wolf′-hound(seeBorzoi);Wol′fing, the hunting of wolves for their skins.—adjs.Wol′fish,Wol′vish, like a wolf either in form or quality: rapacious.—adv.Wol′fishly.—ns.Wolf′kin,Wolf′ling, a young wolf;Wolf's′-bane, aconite;Wolf's′-foot,-claw, the club-mossLycopodium;Wolf′-skin, the skin or pelt of a wolf;Wolf's′-peach, the tomato;Wolf′-spī′der, the tarantula;Wolf′-tooth, a small supernumerary premolar in a horse.—Cry wolf, to give a false alarm—from the story of the boy who cried 'Wolf' when there was none, and was not believed when there was one;Have a wolf by the ears, to be in a very difficult situation;Have a wolf in the stomach, to be ravenously hungry;Keep the wolf from the door, to keep out hunger;See a wolf, to lose one's voice, in allusion to an old superstition. [A.S.wulf; Ger.wolf; L.lupus; Gr.lykos.]
Wolffian, wōōl′fi-an,adj.pertaining to, or associated with, the name of the German embryologist K. F.Wolff(1733-94)—applied to the primordial renal organs in the embryo of the higher vertebrates, performing the function of kidneys till superseded by the true or permanent kidneys.
Wolfian, wōōl′fi-an,adj.pertaining to the philosophy of Johann Christian vonWolf(1679-1754). He systematised and popularised the philosophy of Leibnitz, and gave a strong impulse to that development of natural theology and rationalism which soon almost drove out revelation by rendering it unnecessary—alsoWolff′ian.—n.Wolf′ianism.
Wolfian, wōōl′fi-an,adj.pertaining to, or associated with, the name of Friedrich AugustWolf(1759-1824), the most gifted classical scholar and first critic of his age—applied esp. to his theory that theOdysseyandIliadare composed of numerous ballads by different minstrels, strung together in a kind of unity by subsequent editors.
Wolfram, wol′fram,n.a native compound of tungstate of iron and manganese. [Ger.]
Wolverene,Wolverine, wool-ve-rēn′,n.a name given to the American glutton or carcajou, from its rapacity. [Extension ofwolf.]
Woman, woom′an,n.the female of man, an adult female of the human race: the female sex, women collectively: a female attendant:—pl.Women(wim′en).—v.t.to cause to act like a woman, to unite to a woman (both Shak.): to call a person 'woman' abusively.—n.Wom′an-bod′y(Scot.), a woman, used disparagingly.—adjs.Wom′an-born, born of woman;Wom′an-built, built by women.—adv.Wom′anfully, like a woman.—adj.Wom′an-grown, grown to womanhood.—ns.Wom′an-hāt′er, a misogynist;Wom′anhood, the state, character, or qualities of a woman.—adj.Wom′anish, having the qualities of a woman: feminine.—adv.Wom′anishly.—ns.Wom′anishness;Wom′ankind,Wom′enkind, women taken together: the female sex.—adj.Wom′an-like, like a woman.—n.Wom′anliness.—adj.Wom′anly, like or becoming a woman: feminine.—adv.in the manner of a woman.—ns.Wom′an-post(Shak.), a female messenger;Wom′an-quell′er, a killer of women;Wom′an-suff′rage, the exercise of the electoral franchise by women.—adjs.Wom′an-tired(Shak.), hen-pecked;Wom′an-vest′ed, wearing women's clothes.—Woman of the town, a whore;Woman of the world, a woman of fashion.—Women's rights, the movement of women towards personal and proprietary independence.—Play the woman, to give way to weakness. [A.S.wimman,wífman, a compound ofwíf, a woman,man, man.]
Womb, wōōm,n.the uterus, the organ in which the young of mammals are developed and kept till birth: (Shak.) the stomach: the place where anything is produced: any deep cavity.—v.t.(Shak.) to contain.—adj.Womb′y(Shak.), capacious. [A.S.wamb; Ger.wamme, paunch.]
Wombat, wom′bat,n.an Australian marsupial mammal of the opossum family. [Native name.]
Won, wun,v.i.to dwell: to abide: to be accustomed.—n.a dwelling: an abode.—n.Won′ing, dwelling. [A.S.wunian, Dut.wonen, Ger.wohnen, to dwell.]
Won, wun,pa.t.andpa.p.ofwin.
Wonder, wun′dėr,n.the state of mind produced by something new, unexpected, or extraordinary: a strange thing: a prodigy: a sweet fried cake—alsoCruller.—v.i.to feel wonder: to be amazed (with at): to speculate expectantly.—p.adj.Won′dered(Shak.), having performed, or able to perform, wonders.—n.Won′derer.—adj.Won′derful, full of wonder: exciting wonder: strange: (B.) wonderfully.—adv.Won′derfully.—ns.Won′derfulness;Won′dering.—adv.Won′deringly, with wonder.—ns.Won′derland, a land of wonders;Won′derment, surprise.—adjs.Won′derous(same asWondrous);Won′der-struck,-strick′en, struck with wonder or astonishment.—ns.Won′der-work, a prodigy, miracle: thaumaturgy;Won′der-work′er;Won′der-work′ing.—adjs.Won′der-wound′ed(Shak.), wonder-stricken;Won′drous, such as may excite wonder: strange.—adv.Won′drously.—ns.Won′drousness.—Bird of wonder, the phœnix;Nine days' wonder, something that astonishes everybody for the moment;Seven wonders of the world(seeSeven). [A.S.wundor; Ger.wunder, Ice.undr.]
Wonga-wonga, wong′ga-wong′ga,n.the large Australian white-faced pigeon—a table delicacy.
Wont, wunt,adj.used or accustomed.—n.habit.—v.i.to be accustomed.—adj.Won′ted, accustomed: usual.—n.Won′tedness.—adj.Wont′less(Spens.), unaccustomed. [Orig. pa.p. ofwon, to dwell—A.S.wunian; Ger.wohnen.]
Won′t, wōnt, will not. [Contr. of M. E.wol not.]
Woo, wōō,v.t.to ask in order to marriage: to court: to solicit eagerly, to seek.—v.i.to court or make love: to ask.—ns.Woo′er;Woo′ing. [A.S.wógian, to woo—wóg,wóh, bent.]
Wood, wood,n.the solid part of trees: trees cut or sawed: timber: a collection of growing trees: the cask or barrel, as distinguished from the bottle: (print.) a woodblock.—v.t.to supply with wood.—ns.Wood′-ac′id, wood-vinegar, impure acetic acid from wood-distillation;Wood′-anem′one, the wind-flower, a little woodland plant, blooming in early spring, with a single white flower purplish outside;Wood′-ant, a large forest-dwelling ant: a white ant infesting the wood of old buildings.—n.pl.Wood′-ash′es, ashes obtained by burning wood or plants—the source of many potassium salts.—ns.Wood′bine,Wood′bind, the honeysuckle, applied also to other climbers, such as some kinds of ivy, the Virginia-creeper, &c.;Wood′-bird, a bird that lives in the woods;Wood′block, a die cut in relief on wood and ready to furnish ink impressions: a woodcut.—adjs.Wood′-bō′ring;Wood′-born, born in the woods.—ns.Wood′-car′ving, the process of carving in wood;Wood′chat, a bird which, notwithstanding its name, is not a species of Chat, but of Shrike;Wood′chuck, the green woodpecker;Wood′-coal, coal like wood in texture: charcoal: lignite or brown coal;Wood′cock, a genus of birds allied to the snipes, but of a more bulky body, and with shorter and stronger legs;Wood′cock's-head, a tobacco-pipe;Wood′craft, skill in the chase or anything pertaining to forests, forestry generally;Wood′cut, an engraving cut on wood: an impression from it;Wood′-cut′ter, one who cuts wood: a wood-engraver;Wood′-cut′ting, the act or employment of cutting wood: wood-engraving.—adjs.Wood′ed, supplied with wood: covered with wood;Wood′en, made of wood: hard: dull, insensible: heavy, stupid: clumsy, without grace or spirit—of literary style, &c.—ns.Wood′-engrā′ver;Wood′-engrāving, the art of engraving designs on wood, differing from copper and steel plate engraving by having the parts intended to print on the paper in relief: an engraving on or taken from wood;Wood′en-head, a blockhead, stupid person.—adj.Wood′en-head′ed, stupid.—n.Wood′en-head′edness.—adv.Wood′enly.—ns.Woodenness, wooden quality: want of spirit or expression, clumsiness;Wood′-ē′vil, red-water: severe constipation in cattle, often occurring after eating freely of hedge-cuttings or shoots of trees;Wood′-fī′bre, fibre derived from wood;Wood′-fret′ter, a wood-borer or wood-eater;Wood′-god, a deity of the woods;Wood′-grouse, the capercailzie;Wood′-hole, a place where wood is stored;Wood′-hon′ey, wild honey;Wood′-horse, a saw-horse;Wood′-house, a house or shed in which wood for fuel is deposited;Wood′-ī′bis(seeTantalus);Wood′iness, the state or quality of being woody;Wood′land, land covered with wood;Wood′lander, an inhabitant of the woods;Wood′lark, a species of lark, found in or near woods, singing chiefly on the wing;Wood′-lay′er, a young oak, &c., laid down in a hedge.—adj.Wood′less, without wood.—ns.Wood′lessness;Wood′-louse, any terrestrial isopod of the familyOniscidæ—the Scotchslater, common under stones, &c.: a termite or white ant: any one of the pseudo-neuropterous familyPsocidæ, found in the woodwork of houses;Wood′man, a man who cuts down trees: a forest officer: a huntsman;Wood′-mite, a beetle-mite;Wood′-naph′tha, the mixture of light hydrocarbons distilled from wood (seePyroxylic);Wood′-night′shade, bitter-sweet, or woody nightshade;Wood′-note(Milt.), a wild musical note, like that of a song-bird;Wood′-nymph, a nymph or goddess of the woods;Wood′-off′ering(B.), wood burned on the altar;Wood′-ō′pal, silicified wood;Wood′-owl, the European brown owl;Wood′-pā′per, paper prepared from wood;Wood′pecker, one of a family (Picidæ) of birds in the orderPicariæ, remarkable for the structural modification of the skull in adaptation to its use as an axe, and for the long flexible tongue, which is used for extracting insects from holes and crevices of trees;Wood′-pig′eon, the cushat or ringdove;Wood′-pulp, wood-fibre reduced to a pulp, used in making paper;Wood′-reeve, the overseer of a wood;Wood′ruff, a genus of rubiaceous plants with whorled leaves and a funnel-shaped corolla—Sweet Woodruffhas a creeping root-stock sending up erect stems, and small white flowers; when dried it has a very agreeable fragrance like vernal-grass—(obs.)Wood′-roof;Wood′-sage, the wood germander;Wood′-sand′piper, a common European tattler, allied to the redshank;Wood′-screw, a screw for fastening pieces of wood or wood and metal;Wood′shed, a shed for storing firewood;Wood′-shook, the pekan, fisher, or Pennant's marten—alsoBlack-catandBlack-fox;Wood′-skin, a Guiana Indian's canoe, made of the bark of the purple heart-tree;Woods′man, a woodman;Wood′-soot, soot from burnt wood;Wood′-sorr′el, a plant of the genus Oxalis;Wood′-spir′it(same asPyroxylic spirit);Wood′-spite, the green woodpecker or yaffle;Wood′-stamp, a stamp made of wood, as for stamping fabrics in colours;Wood′-stone, petrified wood;Wood′-swall′ow, an Australian name for any of the fly-catchingArtamidæ, also calledSwallow-shrike—the resemblance to shrikes being considerably closer than to swallows either in appearance or habits.—adj.Wood′sy, pertaining to, or characteristic of, woods.—ns.Wood′-tar, tar obtained from the dry distillation of wood;Wood′thrush, a singing-thrush common in the woods of the eastern United States, reddish-brown above, olive on the rump, white spotted with black on breast;Wood′-tick, any tick of the familyIxonidæ: a small insect which makes a ticking sound in the woodwork of a house, the death-watch;Wood′-tin, a nodular variety of cassiterite, or tin-stone;Wood′-vin′egar(seeWood-acid);Wood′wale, a woodpecker, esp. the green woodpecker,YaffleorRainbird;Wood′-warb′ler, the yellow willow-warbler or woodwren: an American warbler, esp. of the beautiful genusDendrœca;Wood′ward, an officer to guard the woods;Wood′work, a part of any structure made of wood;Wood′worm, a worm or larva infesting wood;Wood′wren, the willow-warbler or willow-wren (Phylloscopus trochilus): the true wood-warbler or yellow willow-wren (Phylloscopus sibilatrix)—neither being properly wrens.—adj.Wood′y, abounding with woods: pertaining to woods: consisting of wood.—n.Wood′y-night′shade(seeWood-nightshade).—Wooden horse, orTimber-mare(seeHorse);Wooden leg, an artificial leg made of wood;Wooden spoon, a spoon of wood presented to the person who stands lowest for the year in the mathematical tripos list at Cambridge;Wooden type, large type cut in wood.—Commissioners of Woods and Forests, a department of government having charge of the Crown woods and forests. [A.S.wudu; cog. with Ice.vidhr, wood; akin to Ir.fiodh, timber.]