WATER SHIELDWa"ter shield`. (Bot.)
Defn: An aquatic American plant (Brasenia peltata) having floating oval leaves, and the covered with a clear jelly.
WATERSHOOTWa"ter*shoot`, n.
1. A sprig or shoot from the root or stock of a tree. [Obs.]
2. (Arch.)
Defn: That which serves to guard from falling water; a drip or dripstone.
3. A trough for discharging water.
WATER SHREWWa"ter shrew`. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of several species of shrews having fringed feet and capable of swimming actively. The two common European species (Crossopus fodiens, and C. ciliatus) are the best known. The most common American water shrew, or marsh shrew (Neosorex palustris), is rarely seen, owing to its nocturnal habits.
WATER SNAILWa"ter snail`.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any aquatic pulmonate gastropod belonging to Planorbis, Limnæa, and allied genera; a pond snail.
2. (Mech.)
Defn: The Archimedean screw. [R.]
WATER SNAKE Wa"ter snake`. (Zoöl.) (a) A common North American colubrine snake (Tropidonotus sipedon) which lives chiefly in the water. (b) Any species of snakes of the family Homalopsidæ, all of which are aquatic in their habits.
WATER-SOAKWa"ter-soak`, v. t.
Defn: To soak water; to fill the interstices of with water.
WATER SOLDIERWa"ter sol`dier. (Bot.)
Defn: An aquatic European plant (Stratiotes aloides) with bayonet- shaped leaves.
WATER SOUCHYWa"ter souch`y. (Cookery)
Defn: A dish consisting of small fish stewed and served in a little water. [Written also water souchet.] See Zoutch.
WATER SPANIELWa"ter span"iel.
Defn: A curly-haired breed of spaniels, naturally very fond of the water.
WATER SPARROW Wa"ter spar"row. (Zoöl.) (a) The reed warbler. [Prov. Eng.] (b) The reed bunting. [Prov. Eng.]
WATER SPEEDWELLWa"ter speed"well. (Bot.)
Defn: A kind of speedwell (Veronica Anagallis) found in wet places inEurope and America.
WATER SPIDER Wa"ter spi"der. (Zoöl.) (a) An aquatic European spider (Argyoneta aquatica) which constructs its web beneath the surface of the water on water plants. It lives in a bell-shaped structure of silk, open beneath like a diving bell, and filled with air which the spider carries down in the form of small bubbles attached one at a time to the spinnerets and hind feet. Called also diving spider. (b) A water mite. (c) Any spider that habitually lives on or about the water, especially the large American species (Dolomedes lanceolatus) which runs rapidly on the surface of water; — called also raft spider.
WATER SPINNERWa"ter spin`ner. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The water spider.
WATERSPOUTWa"ter*spout`, n.
Defn: A remarkable meteorological phenomenon, of the nature of a tornado or whirlwind, usually observed over the sea, but sometimes over the land.
Note: Tall columns, apparently of cloud, and reaching from the sea to the clouds, are seen moving along, often several at once, sometimes straight and vertical, at other times inclined and tortuous, but always in rapid rotation. At their bases, the sea is violently agitated and heaped up with a leaping or boiling motion, water, at least in some cases, being actually carried up in considerable quantity, and scattered round from a great height, as solid bodies are by tornadoes on land. Sir J. Herschel.
WATER SPRITEWa"ter sprite`.
Defn: A sprite, or spirit, imagined as inhabiting the water. J. R.Drake.
WATER-STANDINGWa"ter-stand`ing, a.
Defn: Tear-filled. [R.] "Many an orphan's water-standing eye." Shak.
WATER STAR GRASSWa"ter star" grass`. (Bot.)
Defn: An aquatic plant (Schollera graminea) with grassy leaves, and yellow star-shaped blossoms.
WATER STARWORTWa"ter star"wort`.
Defn: See under Starwort.
WATER SUPPLYWa"ter sup*ply".
Defn: A supply of water; specifically, water collected, as in reservoirs, and conveyed, as by pipes, for use in a city, mill, or the like.
WATER TABBYWa"ter tab"by.
Defn: A kind of waved or watered tabby. See Tabby, n., 1.
WATER TABLEWa"ter ta"ble. (Arch.)
Defn: A molding, or other projection, in the wall of a building, to throw off the water, — generally used in the United States for the first table above the surface of the ground (see Table, n., 9), that is, for the table at the top of the foundation and the beginning of the upper wall.
WATERTATHWa"ter*tath`, n. Etym: [Water + tath, n.]
Defn: A kind of coarse grass growing in wet grounds, and supposed to be injurious to sheep. [Prov. Eng.]
WATER TELESCOPEWater telescope.
1. (Optics) A telescope in which the medium between the objective and the eye piece is water instead of air, used in some experiments in aberration.
2. A telescope devised for looking into a body of water.
WATER TENDERWater tender. (Nav.)
Defn: In the United States navy, a first-class petty officer in charge in a fireroom. He "tends" water to the boilers, sees that fires are properly cleaned and stoked, etc. There is also a rating of chief water tender, who is a chief petty officer.
WATER THERMOMETERWa"ter ther*mom"e*ter. (Physics)
Defn: A thermometer filled with water instead of mercury, for ascertaining the precise temperature at which water attains its maximum density. This is about 39º Fahr., or 4º Centigrade; and from that point down to 32º Fahr., or 0º Centigrade, or the freezing point, it expands.
WATER THIEFWa"ter thief`.
Defn: A pirate. [R.] Shak.
WATER THRUSH Wa"ter thrush`. (Zoöl.) (a) A North American bird of the genus Seiurus, belonging to the Warbler family, especially the common species (S. Noveboracensis). (b) The European water ousel. (b) The pied wagtail.
WATER THYMEWa"ter thyme`. (Bot.)
Defn: See Anacharis.
WATER TICKWa"ter tick`.
Defn: Same as Water mite.
WATER TIGERWa"ter ti"ger. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A diving, or water, beetle, especially the larva of a water beetle. See Illust. b of Water beetle.
WATER-TIGHTWa"ter-tight`, a.
Defn: So tight as to retain, or not to admit, water; not leaky.
WATER TORCHWa"ter torch`. (Bot.)
Defn: The common cat-tail (Typha latifolia), the spike of which makes a good torch soaked in oil. Dr. Prior.
WATER TOWERWa"ter tow"er.
Defn: A large metal pipe made to be extended vertically by sections, and used for discharging water upon burning buildings.
WATER TREEWa"ter tree`. (Bot.)
Defn: A climbing shrub (Tetracera alnifolia, or potatoria) of WesternAfrica, which pours out a watery sap from the freshly cut stems.
WATER TREFOILWa"ter tre"foil`. (Bot.)
Defn: The buck bean.
WATER TUBEWa"ter tube`. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a system of tubular excretory organs having external openings, found in many invertebrates. They are believed to be analogous in function to the kidneys of vertebrates. See Illust. under Trematodea, and Sporocyst.
WATER TUPELOWa"ter tu"pe*lo. (Bot.)
Defn: A species of large tupelo (Nyssa aquatica) growing in swamps in the southern of the United States. See Ogeechee lime.
WATER TURKEYWa"ter tur"key. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The American snakebird. See Snakebird.
WATER TU TUYEREWa"ter tu tu`yère".
Defn: A tuyère kept cool by water circulating within a casing. It is used for hot blast.
WATER TU TWISTWa"ter tu twist`.
Defn: Yarn made by the throstle, or water frame.
WATER VINEWa"ter vine`. (Bot.)
Defn: Any plant of the genus Phytocrene, climbing shrubs of Asia and Africa, the stems of which are singularly porous, and when cut stream with a limpid potable juice.
WATER VIOLETWa"ter vi"o*let. (Bot.)
Defn: See under Violet.
WATER VIPERWa"ter vi"per. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Water moccasin.
WATER VOLEWa"ter vole`. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See under Vole.
WATER WAGTAILWa"ter wag"tail`.
Defn: See under Wagtail.
WATERWAYWa"ter*way`, n. (Naut.)
Defn: Heavy plank or timber extending fore and aft the whole length of a vessel's deck at the line of junction with the sides, forming a channel to the scuppers, which are cut through it. In iron vessels the waterway is variously constructed.
WATER WAYWa"ter way`.
Defn: Same as Water course.
WATERWEEDWa"ter*weed`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Anacharis.
WATER WHEELWa"ter wheel`.
1. Any wheel for propelling machinery or for other purposes, that is made to rotate by the direct action of water; — called an overshot wheel when the water is applied at the top, an undershot wheel when at the bottom, a breast wheel when at an intermediate point; other forms are called reaction wheel, vortex wheel, turbine wheel, etc.
2. The paddle wheel of a steam vessel.
3. A wheel for raising water; a noria, or the like.
WATER-WHITEWa"ter-white`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A vinelike plant (Vitis Caribæa) growing in parched districts in the West Indies, and containing a great amount of sap which is sometimes used for quenching thirst.
WATER WILLOWWa"ter wil`low. (Bot.)
Defn: An American aquatic plant (Dianthera Americana) with long willowlike leaves, and spikes of small purplish flowers.
WATER WINGWa"ter wing`. (Arch.)
Defn: One of two walls built on either side of the junction of a bridge with the bank of a river, to protect the abutment of the bridge and the bank from the action of the current.
WATER WITCH Wa"ter witch`. (Zoöl.) (a) The dabchick. (b) The stormy petrel. [Prov. Eng.]
WATER-WITHEWa"ter-withe`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A vinelike plant (Vitis Caribæa) growing in parched districts in the West Indies, and containing a great amount of sap which is sometimes used for quenching thirst.
WATERWORKWa"ter*work`, n.
1. (Paint.)
Defn: Painting executed in size or distemper, on canvas or walls, — formerly, frequently taking the place of tapestry. Shak. Fairholt.
2. An hydraulic apparatus, or a system of works or fixtures, by which a supply of water is furnished for useful or ornamental purposes, including dams, sluices, pumps, aqueducts, distributing pipes, fountains, etc.; — used chiefly in the plural.
WATERWORNWa"ter*worn`, a.
Defn: Worn, smoothed, or polished by the action of water; as, waterworn stones.
WATERWORTWa"ter*wort`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: Any plant of the natural order Elatineæ, consisting of two genera (Elatine, and Bergia), mostly small annual herbs growing in the edges of ponds. Some have a peppery or acrid taste.
WATERYWa"ter*y, a. Etym: [AS. wæterig.]
1. Of or pertaining to water; consisting of water. "The watery god." Dryden. "Fish within their watery residence." Milton.
2. Abounding with water; wet; hence, tearful.
3. Resembling water; thin or transparent, as a liquid; as, watery humors. The oily and watery parts of the aliment. Arbuthnot.
4. Hence, abounding in thin, tasteless, or insipid fluid; tasteless; insipid; vapid; spiritless.
WATTWatt, n. Etym: [From the distinguished mechanician and scientist,James Watt.] (Physics)
Defn: A unit of power or activity equal to 107 C.G.S. units of power, or to work done at the rate of one joule a second. An English horse power is approximately equal to 746 watts.
WATTEAUWat*teau", a. (Art)
Defn: Having the appearance of that which is seen in pictures by Antoine Watteau, a French painter of the eighteenth century; —said esp. of women's garments; as, a Watteau bodice.
WATTEAU BACKWatteau back.
Defn: The back of a woman's gown in which one or more very broad folds are carried from the neck to the floor without being held in at the waist, while the front and sides of the gown are shaped to the person and have a belt or its equivalent.
WATTLE Wat"tle, n. Etym: [AS. watel, watul, watol, hurdle, covering, wattle; cf. OE. watel a bag. Cf. Wallet.]
1. A twig or flexible rod; hence, a hurdle made of such rods. And there he built with wattles from the marsh A little lonely church in days of yore. Tennyson.
2. A rod laid on a roof to support the thatch.
3. (Zoöl.) (a) A naked fleshy, and usually wrinkled and highly colored, process of the skin hanging from the chin or throat of a bird or reptile. (b) Barbel of a fish.
4. (a) The astringent bark of several Australian trees of the genus Acacia, used in tanning; — called also wattle bark. (b) (Bot.) The trees from which the bark is obtained. See Savanna wattle, under Savanna. Wattle turkey. (Zoöl.) Same as Brush turkey.
WATTLEWat"tle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Wattled; p. pr. & vb. n. Wattling.]
1. To bind with twigs.
2. To twist or interweave, one with another, as twigs; to form a network with; to plat; as, to wattle branches.
3. To form, by interweaving or platting twigs. The folded flocks, penned in their wattled cotes. Milton.
WATTLEBIRDWat"tle*bird`, n.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of several species of honey eaters belonging to Anthochæra and allied genera of the family Meliphagidæ. These birds usually have a large and conspicuous wattle of naked skin hanging down below each ear. They are natives of Australia and adjacent islands.
Note: The best-known species (Anthochæra carunculata) has the upper parts grayish brown, with a white stripe on each feather, and the wing and tail quills dark brown or blackish, tipped with withe. Its wattles, in life, are light blood-red. Called also wattled crow, wattled bee-eater, wattled honey eater. Another species (A. inauris) is streaked with black, gray, and white, and its long wattles are white, tipped with orange. The bush wattlebirds, belonging to the genus Anellobia, are closely related, but lack conspicuous wattles. The most common species (A. mellivora) is dark brown, finely streaked with white. Called also goruck creeper.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The Australian brush turkey.
WATTLEDWat"tled, a.
Defn: Furnished with wattles, or pendent fleshy processes at the chinor throat.The wattled cocks strut to and fro. Longfellow.
WATTLESSWatt"less, a. (Elec.)
Defn: Without any power (cf. Watt); — said of an alternating current or component of current when it differs in phase by ninety degrees from the electromotive force which produces it, or of an electromotive force or component thereof when the current it produces differs from it in phase by 90 degrees.
WATTLINGWat"tling, n.
Defn: The act or process of binding or platting with twigs; also, thenetwork so formed.Made with a wattling of canes or sticks. Dampier.
WATTMETERWatt"me`ter, n. Etym: [Watt + meter.] (Physics)
Defn: An instrument for measuring power in watts, — much used in measuring the energy of an electric current.
WAUCHT; WAUGHTWaucht, Waught, n. Etym: [Cf. Quaff.]
Defn: A large draught of any liquid. [Scot.] Jamieson.
WAULWaul, v. i. Etym: [Of imitative origin.]
Defn: To cry as a cat; to squall; to wail. [Written also wawl.]The helpless infant, coming wauling and crying into the world. Sir W.Scott.
WAURWaur, a. Etym: [See Worse.]
Defn: Worse. [Scot.]Murder and waur than number. Sir W. Scott.
WAVEWave, v. t.
Defn: See Wave. Sir H. Wotton. Burke.
WAVE Wave, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Waved; p. pr. & vb. n. Waving.] Etym: [OE. waven, AS. wafian to waver, to hesitate, to wonder; akin to wæfre wavering, restless, MHG. wabern to be in motion, Icel. vafra to hover about; cf. Icel. vafa to vibrate. Cf. Waft, Waver.]
1. To play loosely; to move like a wave, one way and the other; to float; to flutter; to undulate. His purple robes waved careless to the winds. Trumbull. Where the flags of three nations has successively waved. Hawthorne.
2. To be moved to and fro as a signal. B. Jonson.
3. To fluctuate; to waver; to be in an unsettled state; to vacillate. [Obs.] He waved indifferently 'twixt doing them neither good nor harm. Shak.
WAVEWave, v. t.
1. To move one way and the other; to brandish. "[Æneas] waved his fatal sword." Dryden.
2. To raise into inequalities of surface; to give an undulating form a surface to. Horns whelked and waved like the enridged sea. Shak.
3. To move like a wave, or by floating; to waft. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
4. To call attention to, or give a direction or command to, by a waving motion, as of the hand; to signify by waving; to beckon; to signal; to indicate. Look, with what courteous action It waves you to a more removed ground. Shak. She spoke, and bowing waved Dismissal. Tennyson.
WAVE Wave, n. Etym: [From Wave, v.; not the same word as OE. wawe, waghe, a wave, which is akin to E. wag to move. Wave, v. i.]
1. An advancing ridge or swell on the surface of a liquid, as of the sea, resulting from the oscillatory motion of the particles composing it when disturbed by any force their position of rest; an undulation. The wave behind impels the wave before. Pope.
2. (Physics)
Defn: A vibration propagated from particle to particle through a body or elastic medium, as in the transmission of sound; an assemblage of vibrating molecules in all phases of a vibration, with no phase repeated; a wave of vibration; an undulation. See Undulation.
3. Water; a body of water. [Poetic] "Deep drank Lord Marmion of the wave." Sir W. Scott. Build a ship to save thee from the flood, I 'll furnish thee with fresh wave, bread, and wine. Chapman.
4. Unevenness; inequality of surface. Sir I. Newton.
5. A waving or undulating motion; a signal made with the hand, a flag, etc.
6. The undulating line or streak of luster on cloth watered, or calendered, or on damask steel.
7. Fig.: A swelling or excitement of thought, feeling, or energy; a tide; as, waves of enthusiasm. Wave front (Physics), the surface of initial displacement of the particles in a medium, as a wave of vibration advances. — Wave length (Physics), the space, reckoned in the direction of propagation, occupied by a complete wave or undulation, as of light, sound, etc.; the distance from a point or phase in a wave to the nearest point at which the same phase occurs. — Wave line (Shipbuilding), a line of a vessel's hull, shaped in accordance with the wave-line system. — Wave-line system, Wave-line theory (Shipbuilding), a system or theory of designing the lines of a vessel, which takes into consideration the length and shape of a wave which travels at a certain speed. — Wave loaf, a loaf for a wave offering. Lev. viii. 27. — Wave moth (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of small geometrid moths belonging to Acidalia and allied genera; — so called from the wavelike color markings on the wings. — Wave offering, an offering made in the Jewish services by waving the object, as a loaf of bread, toward the four cardinal points. Num. xviii. 11. — Wave of vibration (Physics), a wave which consists in, or is occasioned by, the production and transmission of a vibratory state from particle to particle through a body. — Wave surface. (a) (Physics) A surface of simultaneous and equal displacement of the particles composing a wave of vibration. (b) (Geom.) A mathematical surface of the fourth order which, upon certain hypotheses, is the locus of a wave surface of light in the interior of crystals. It is used in explaining the phenomena of double refraction. See under Refraction. — Wave theory. (Physics) See Undulatory theory, under Undulatory.
WAVEDWaved, a.
1. Exhibiting a wavelike form or outline; undulating; intended; wavy; as, waved edge.
2. Having a wavelike appearance; marked with wavelike lines of color; as, waved, or watered, silk.
3. (Her.)
Defn: Having undulations like waves; — said of one of the lines in heraldry which serve as outlines to the ordinaries, etc.
WAVELESSWave"less, a.
Defn: Free from waves; undisturbed; not agitated; as, the waveless sea.
WAVELETWave"let, n.
Defn: A little wave; a ripple.
WAVELLITEWa"vel*lite, n. Etym: [After Dr. Wm. Wavel, the discoverer.] (Min.)
Defn: A hydrous phosphate of alumina, occurring usually in hemispherical radiated forms varying in color from white to yellow, green, or black.
WAVERWa"ver, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Wavered; p. pr. & vb. n. Wavering.] Etym:[OE. waveren, from AS. wæfre wavering, restless. See Wave, v. i.]
1. To play or move to and fro; to move one way and the other; hence, to totter; to reel; to swing; to flutter. With banners and pennons wavering with the wind. Ld. Berners. Thou wouldst waver on one of these trees as a terror to all evil speakers against dignities. Sir W. Scott.
2. To be unsettled in opinion; to vacillate; to be undetermined; to fluctuate; as, to water in judgment. Let us hold fast . . . without wavering. Heb. x. 23. In feeble hearts, propense enough before To waver, or fall off and join with idols. Milton.
Syn.— To reel; totter; vacillate. See Fluctuate.
WAVERWa"ver, n. Etym: [From Wave, or Waver, v.]
Defn: A sapling left standing in a fallen wood. [Prov. Eng.]Halliwell.
WAVERERWa"ver*er, n.
Defn: One who wavers; one who is unsettled in doctrine, faith, opinion, or the like. Shak.
WAVERINGLYWa"ver*ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a wavering manner.
WAVERINGNESSWa"ver*ing*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of wavering.
WAVESONWave"son, n. Etym: [From Wave; cf. Jetsam.] (O. Eng. Law)
Defn: Goods which, after shipwreck, appear floating on the waves, or sea.
WAVE-WORNWave"-*worn`, a.
Defn: Worn by the waves.The shore that o'er his wave-worn basis bowed. Shak.
WAVEYWa"vey, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The snow goose. [Canadian, & Local U. S.]
WAVINESSWav"i*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being wavy.
WAVUREWav"ure, n.
Defn: See Waivure. [R.]
WAVYWav"y, a.
1. Rising or swelling in waves; full of waves. "The wavy seas." Chapman.
2. Playing to and fro; undulating; as, wavy flames. Let her glad valleys smile with wavy corn. Prior.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: Undulating on the border or surface; waved.
WAWASKEESHWa*was"keesh, n. Etym: [From an Indian name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The wapiti, or wapiti, or American elk.
WAWEWawe, n. Etym: [See Woe.]
Defn: Woe. [Obs.]
WAWE Wawe, n. Etym: [OE. wawe, waghe; cf. Icel. vagr; akin to E. wag; not the same word as wave.]
Defn: A wave. [Obs.] Chaucer. Spenser.
WAWLWawl, v. i.
Defn: See Waul. Shak.
WAX Wax, v. i. [imp. Waxed; p. p. Waxed, and Obs. or Poetic Waxen (; p. pr. & vb. n. Waxing.] Etym: [AS. weaxan; akin to OFries. waxa, D. wassen, OS. & OHG. wahsan, G. wachsen, Icel. vaxa, Sw. växa, Dan. voxe, Goth. wahsjan, Gr. waksh, uksh, to grow. Waist.]
1. To increase in size; to grow bigger; to become larger or fuller; -- opposed to wane.The waxing and the waning of the moon. Hakewill.Truth's treasures . . . never shall wax ne wane. P. Plowman.
2. To pass from one state to another; to become; to grow; as, to wax strong; to wax warmer or colder; to wax feeble; to wax old; to wax worse and worse. Your clothes are not waxen old upon you. Deut. xxix. 5. Where young Adonis oft reposes, Waxing well of his deep wound. Milton. Waxing kernels (Med.), small tumors formed by the enlargement of the lymphatic glands, especially in the groins of children; — popularly so called, because supposed to be caused by growth of the body. Dunglison.
WAX Wax, n. Etym: [AS. weax; akin to OFries. wax, D. was, G. wachs, OHG. wahs, Icel. & Sw. vax, Dan. vox, Lith. vaszkas, Russ. vosk'.]
1. A fatty, solid substance, produced by bees, and employed by them in the construction of their comb; — usually called beeswax. It is first excreted, from a row of pouches along their sides, in the form of scales, which, being masticated and mixed with saliva, become whitened and tenacious. Its natural color is pale or dull yellow.
Note: Beeswax consists essentially of cerotic acid (constituting the more soluble part) and of myricyl palmitate (constituting the less soluble part).
2. Hence, any substance resembling beeswax in consistency or appearance. Specifically: —(a) (Physiol.)
Defn: Cerumen, or earwax. See Cerumen. (b) A waxlike composition used for uniting surfaces, for excluding air, and for other purposes; as, sealing wax, grafting wax, etching wax, etc. (c) A waxlike composition used by shoemakers for rubbing their thread. (d) (Zoöl.) A substance similar to beeswax, secreted by several species of scale insects, as the Chinese wax. See Wax insect, below. (e) (Bot.) A waxlike product secreted by certain plants. See Vegetable wax, under Vegetable. (f) (Min.)
Defn: A substance, somewhat resembling wax, found in connection with certain deposits of rock salt and coal; — called also mineral wax, and ozocerite. (g) Thick sirup made by boiling down the sap of the sugar maple, and then cooling. [Local U.S.] Japanese wax, a waxlike substance made in Japan from the berries of certain species of Rhus, esp. R. succedanea. — Mineral wax. (Min.) See Wax, 2 (f), above. — Wax cloth. See Waxed cloth, under Waxed. — Wax end. See Waxed end, under Waxed. — Wax flower, a flower made of, or resembling, wax. — Wax insect (Zoöl.), any one of several species of scale insects belonging to the family Coccidæ, which secrete from their bodies a waxlike substance, especially the Chinese wax insect (Coccus Sinensis) from which a large amount of the commercial Chinese wax is obtained. Called also pela. — Wax light, a candle or taper of wax. — Wax moth (Zoöl.), a pyralid moth (Galleria cereana) whose larvæ feed upon honeycomb, and construct silken galleries among the fragments. The moth has dusky gray wings streaked with brown near the outer edge. The larva is yellowish white with brownish dots. Called also bee moth. — Wax myrtle. (Bot.) See Bayberry. — Wax painting, a kind of painting practiced by the ancients, under the name of encaustic. The pigments were ground with wax, and diluted. After being applied, the wax was melted with hot irons and the color thus fixed. — Wax palm. (Bot.) (a) A species of palm (Ceroxylon Andicola) native of the Andes, the stem of which is covered with a secretion, consisting of two thirds resin and one third wax, which, when melted with a third of fat, makes excellent candles. (b) A Brazilian tree (Copernicia cerifera) the young leaves of which are covered with a useful waxy secretion. — Wax paper, paper prepared with a coating of white wax and other ingredients. — Wax plant (Bot.), a name given to several plants, as: (a) The Indian pipe (see under Indian). (b) The Hoya carnosa, a climbing plant with polished, fleshy leaves. (c) Certain species of Begonia with similar foliage. — Wax tree (Bot.) (a) A tree or shrub (Ligustrum lucidum) of China, on which certain insects make a thick deposit of a substance resembling white wax. (b) A kind of sumac (Rhus succedanea) of Japan, the berries of which yield a sort of wax. (c) A rubiaceous tree (Elæagia utilis) of New Grenada, called by the inhabitants "arbol del cera." — Wax yellow, a dull yellow, resembling the natural color of beeswax.
WAXWax, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Waxed; p. pr. & vb. n. Waxing.]
Defn: To smear or rub with wax; to treat with wax; as, to wax a thread or a table. Waxed cloth, cloth covered with a coating of wax, used as a cover, of tables and for other purposes; — called also wax cloth. — Waxed end, a thread pointed with a bristle and covered with shoemaker's wax, used in sewing leather, as for boots, shoes, and the like; — called also wax end. Brockett.
WAXBERRYWax"ber`ry, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The wax-covered fruit of the wax myrtle, or bayberry. SeeBayberry, and Candleberry tree.
WAXBILLWax"bill`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of numerous species of finchlike birds belonging toEstrelda and allied genera, native of Asia, Africa, and Australia.The bill is large, conical, and usually red in color, resemblingsealing wax. Several of the species are often kept as cage birds.
WAXBIRDWax"bird`, (Zoöl.)
Defn: The waxwing.
WAXENWax"en, a.
1. Made of wax. "The female bee, that . . . builds her waxen cells." Milton.
2. Covered with wax; waxed; as, a waxen tablet.
3. Resembling wax; waxy; hence, soft; yielding. Men have marble, women waxen, minds. Shak. Waxen chatterer (Zoöl.), the Bohemian chatterer.
WAXINESSWax"i*ness, n.
Defn: Quality or state of being waxy.
WAXWINGWax"wing`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of several species of small birds of the genus Ampelis, in which some of the secondary quills are usually tipped with small horny ornaments resembling red sealing wax. The Bohemian waxwing (see under Bohemian) and the cedar bird are examples. Called also waxbird.
WAXWORKWax"work`, n.
1. Work made of wax; especially, a figure or figures formed or partly of wax, in imitation of real beings.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: An American climbing shrub (Celastrus scandens). It bears a profusion of yellow berrylike pods, which open in the autumn, and display the scarlet coverings of the seeds.
WAXWORKERWax"work`er, n.
1. One who works in wax; one who makes waxwork.
2. A bee that makes or produces wax.
WAXWORKSWax"works`, n. pl.
Defn: An exhibition of wax figures, or the place of exhibition.
WAXYWax"y, a.
Defn: Resembling wax in appearance or consistency; viscid; adhesive; soft; hence, yielding; pliable; impressible. "Waxy to persuasion." Bp. Hall. Waxy degeneration (Med.), amyloid degeneration. See under Amyloid. — Waxy kidney, Waxy liver, etc. (Med.), a kidney or liver affected by waxy degeneration.
WAYWay, adv. Etym: [Aphetic form of away.]
Defn: Away. [Obs. or Archaic] Chaucer. To do way, to take away; to remove. [Obs.] "Do way your hands." Chaucer. — To make way with, to make away with. See under Away. [Archaic]
WAY Way, n. Etym: [OE. wey, way, AS. weg; akin to OS., D., OHG., & G. weg, Icel. vegr, Sw. väg, Dan. vei, Goth. wigs, L. via, and AS. wegan to move, L. vehere to carry, Skr. vah. sq. root136. Cf. Convex, Inveigh, Vehicle, Vex, Via, Voyage, Wag, Wagon, Wee, Weigh.]
1. That by, upon, or along, which one passes or processes; opportunity or room to pass; place of passing; passage; road, street, track, or path of any kind; as, they built a way to the mine. "To find the way to heaven." Shak. I shall him seek by way and eke by street. Chaucer. The way seems difficult, and steep to scale. Milton. The season and ways were very improper for his majesty's forces to march so great a distance. Evelyn.
2. Length of space; distance; interval; as, a great way; a long way. And whenever the way seemed long, Or his heart began to fail. Longfellow.
3. A moving; passage; procession; journey. I prythee, now, lead the way. Shak.
4. Course or direction of motion or process; tendency of action;advance.If that way be your walk, you have not far. Milton.And let eternal justice take the way. Dryden.
5. The means by which anything is reached, or anything is accomplished; scheme; device; plan. My best way is to creep under his gaberdine. Shak. By noble ways we conquest will prepare. Dryden. What impious ways my wishes took! Prior.
6. Manner; method; mode; fashion; style; as, the way of expressing one's ideas.
7. Regular course; habitual method of life or action; plan of conduct; mode of dealing. "Having lost the way of nobleness." Sir. P. Sidney. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. Prov. iii. 17. When men lived in a grander way. Longfellow.
8. Sphere or scope of observation. Jer. Taylor. The public ministers that fell in my way. Sir W. Temple.
9. Determined course; resolved mode of action or conduct; as, to have one's way.
10. (Naut.) (a) Progress; as, a ship has way. (b) pl.
Defn: The timbers on which a ship is launched.
11. pl. (Mach.)
Defn: The longitudinal guides, or guiding surfaces, on the bed of a planer, lathe, or the like, along which a table or carriage moves.
12. (Law)
Defn: Right of way. See below. By the way, in passing; apropos;aside; apart from, though connected with, the main object or subjectof discourse.— By way of, for the purpose of; as being; in character of.— Covert way. (Fort.) See Covered way, under Covered.— In the family way. See under Family.— In the way, so as to meet, fall in with, obstruct, hinder, etc.— In the way with, traveling or going with; meeting or being with;in the presence of.— Milky way. (Astron.) See Galaxy, 1.— No way, No ways. See Noway, Noways, in the Vocabulary.— On the way, traveling or going; hence, in process; advancingtoward completion; as, on the way to this country; on the way tosuccess.— Out of the way. See under Out.— Right of way (Law), a right of private passage over another'sground. It may arise either by grant or prescription. It may beattached to a house, entry, gate, well, or city lot, as well as to acountry farm. Kent.— To be under way, or To have way (Naut.), to be in motion, as whena ship begins to move.— To give way. See under Give.— To go one's way, or To come one's way, to go or come; to departor come along. Shak.— To go the way of all the earth, to die.— To make one's way, to advance in life by one's personal efforts.— To make way. See under Make, v. t.— Ways and means. (a) Methods; resources; facilities. (b)(Legislation) Means for raising money; resources for revenue.— Way leave, permission to cross, or a right of way across, land;also, rent paid for such right. [Eng] — Way of the cross (Eccl.),the course taken in visiting in rotation the stations of the cross.See Station, n., 7 (c).— Way of the rounds (Fort.), a space left for the passage of therounds between a rampart and the wall of a fortified town.— Way pane, a pane for cartage in irrigated land. See Pane, n., 4.[Prov. Eng.] — Way passenger, a passenger taken up, or set down, atsome intermediate place between the principal stations on a line oftravel.— Ways of God, his providential government, or his works.— Way station, an intermediate station between principal stationson a line of travel, especially on a railroad.— Way train, a train which stops at the intermediate, or way,stations; an accommodation train.— Way warden, the surveyor of a road.
Syn. — Street; highway; road. — Way, Street, Highway, Road. Way is generic, denoting any line for passage or conveyance; a highway is literally one raised for the sake of dryness and convenience in traveling; a road is, strictly, a way for horses and carriages; a street is, etymologically, a paved way, as early made in towns and cities; and, hence, the word is distinctively applied to roads or highways in compact settlements. All keep the broad highway, and take delight With many rather for to go astray. Spenser. There is but one road by which to climb up. Addison. When night Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine. Milton.
WAYWay, v. t.
Defn: To go or travel to; to go in, as a way or path. [Obs.] "In land not wayed." Wyclif.
WAYWay, v. i.
Defn: To move; to progress; to go. [R.]On a time as they together wayed. Spenser.
WAYBILLWay"bill`, n.
Defn: A list of passengers in a public vehicle, or of the baggage or gods transported by a common carrier on a land route. When the goods are transported by water, the list is called a bill of lading.
WAYBREADWay"bread`, n. Etym: [AS. wegbr. See Way, and Broad.] (Bot.)
Defn: The common dooryard plantain (Plantago major).
WAYBUNGWay"bung`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An Australian insessorial bird (Corcorax melanorhamphus) noted for the curious actions of the male during the breeding season. It is black with a white patch on each wing.
WAYEDWayed, a.
Defn: Used to the way; broken. [R.] A horse that is not well wayed; he starts at every bird that flies out the hedge. Selden.
WAYFAREWay"fare`, v. i. Etym: [Way + fare to go.]
Defn: To journey; to travel; to go to and fro. [Obs.] A certain Laconian, as he wayfared, came unto a place where there dwelt an old friend of his. Holland.
WAYFAREWay"fare`, n.
Defn: The act of journeying; travel; passage. [Obs.] Holland.
WAYFARERWay"far`er, n.
Defn: One who travels; a traveler; a passenger.
WAYFARINGWay"far`ing, a.
Defn: Traveling; passing; being on a journey. "A wayfaring man."Judg. xix. 17. Wayfaring tree (Bot.), a European shrub (Viburnumlantana) having large ovate leaves and dense cymes of small whiteflowers.— American wayfaring tree (Bot.), the (Viburnum lantanoides).
WAYGATEWay"gate`, n.
Defn: The tailrace of a mill. Knight.
WAY-GOINGWay"-go`ing, a.
Defn: Going away; departing; of or pertaining to one who goes away. Way-going crop (Law of Leases), a crop of grain to which tenants for years are sometimes entitled by custom; grain sown in the fall to be reaped at the next harvest; a crop which will not ripen until after the termination of the lease. Burrill.
WAY-GOOSEWay"-goose`, n.
Defn: See Wayz-goose, n., 2. [Eng.]
WAYKWayk, a.
Defn: Weak. [Obs.] Chaucer.
WAYLAYWay"lay`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Waylaid; p. pr. & vb. n. Waylaying.]Etym: [Way + lay.]
Defn: To lie in wait for; to meet or encounter in the way; especially, to watch for the passing of, with a view to seize, rob, or slay; to beset in ambush. Falstaff, Bardolph, Peto, and Gadshill shall rob those men that we have already waylaid. Shak. She often contrived to waylay him in his walks. Sir W. Scott.
WAYLAYERWay"lay`er, n.
Defn: One who waylays another.
WAYLESSWay"less, a.
Defn: Having no road or path; pathless.
WAYLEWAYWay"le*way, interj.
Defn: See Welaway. [Obs.]
WAYMAKERWay"mak`er, n.
Defn: One who makes a way; a precursor. [R.] Bacon.
WAYMARKWay"mark`, n.
Defn: A mark to guide in traveling.
WAYMENTWay"ment, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Waymented; p. pr. & vb. n. Waymenting.]Etym: [OE. waymenten, OF. waimenter, gaimenter, guaimenter, from wai,guai, woe! (of Teutonic origin; see Woe) and L. lamentari to lament.See Lament.]
Defn: To lament; to grieve; to wail. [Written also waiment.] [Obs.]Thilke science . . . maketh a man to waymenten. Chaucer.For what boots it to weep and wayment, When ill is chanced Spenser.
WAYMENTWay"ment, n.
Defn: Grief; lamentation; mourning. [Written also waiment.] [Obs.]Spenser.
-WAYS -ways.
Defn: A suffix formed from way by the addition of the adverbial -s (see -wards). It is often used interchangeably with wise; as, endways or endwise; noways or nowise, etc.
WAY SHAFTWay" shaft`.
1. (Mach.)
Defn: A rock shaft.
2. (Mining)
Defn: An interior shaft, usually one connecting two levels. Raymond.
WAYSIDEWay"side`, n.
Defn: The side of the way; the edge or border of a road or path.
WAYSIDEWay"side`, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the wayside; as, wayside flowers. "A wayside inn." Longfellow.
WAYWARDWay"ward, a. Etym: [OE. weiward, for aweiward, i. e., turned away.See Away, and -ward.]
Defn: Taking one's own way; disobedient; froward; perverse; willful.My wife is in a wayward mood. Shak.Wayward beauty doth not fancy move. Fairfax.Wilt thou forgive the wayward thought Keble.— Way"ward*ly, adv.— Way"ward*ness, n.
WAY-WISEWay"-wise`, a.
Defn: Skillful in finding the way; well acquainted with the way or route; wise from having traveled.
WAYWISER Way"wis`er, n. Etym: [Cf. G. wegweiser a waymark, a guide; weg way + weisen to show, direct.]
Defn: An instrument for measuring the distance which one has traveled on the road; an odometer, pedometer, or perambulator. The waywiser to a coach, exactly measuring the miles, and showing them by an index. Evelyn.
WAYWODE Way"wode, n. Etym: [Russ. voevoda, or Pol. woiewoda; properly, a leader of an army, a leader in war. Cf. Vaivode.]
Defn: Originally, the title of a military commander in various Slavonic countries; afterwards applied to governors of towns or provinces. It was assumed for a time by the rulers of Moldavia and Wallachia, who were afterwards called hospodars, and has also been given to some inferior Turkish officers. [Written also vaivode, voivode, waiwode, and woiwode.]
WAYWODESHIPWay"wode*ship, n.
Defn: The office, province, or jurisdiction of a waywode.
WAYWORNWay"worn`, a.
Defn: Wearied by traveling.
WAYZ-GOOSEWayz"-goose`, n. Etym: [Wase stubble + goose.]
1. A stubble goose. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
2. An annual feast of the persons employed in a printing office. [Written also way-goose.] [Eng.]
WEWe, pron.; pl. of I. [Poss. Our (our) or Ours (; obj. Us (. See I.]Etym: [As. w; akin to OS. wi, OFries. & LG. wi, D. wij, G. wir, Icel.v, Sw. & Dan. vi, Goth. weis, Skr. vayam. sq. root190.]
Defn: The plural nominative case of the pronoun of the first person; the word with which a person in speaking or writing denotes a number or company of which he is one, as the subject of an action expressed by a verb.
Note: We is frequently used to express men in general, including the speaker. We is also often used by individuals, as authors, editors, etc., in speaking of themselves, in order to avoid the appearance of egotism in the too frequent repetition of the pronoun I. The plural style is also in use among kings and other sovereigns, and is said to have been begun by King John of England. Before that time, monarchs used the singular number in their edicts. The German and the French sovereigns followed the example of King John in a. d. 1200.
WEAK Weak, a. [Compar. Weaker; superl. Weakest.] Etym: [OE. weik, Icel. veikr; akin to Sw. vek, Dan. veg soft, flexible, pliant, AS. wac weak, soft, pliant, D. week, G. weich, OHG. weih; all from the verb seen in Icel. vikja to turn, veer, recede, AS. wican to yield, give way, G. weichen, OHG. wihhan, akin to Skr. vij, and probably to E. week, L. vicis a change, turn, Gr. Week, Wink, v. i. Vicissitude.]
1. Wanting physical strength. Specifically: — (a) Deficient in strength of body; feeble; infirm; sickly; debilitated; enfeebled; exhausted. A poor, infirm, weak, and despised old man. Shak. Weak with hunger, mad with love. Dryden.
(b) Not able to sustain a great weight, pressure, or strain; as, a weak timber; a weak rope. (c) Not firmly united or adhesive; easily broken or separated into pieces; not compact; as, a weak ship. (d) Not stiff; pliant; frail; soft; as, the weak stalk of a plant. (e) Not able to resist external force or onset; easily subdued or overcome; as, a weak barrier; as, a weak fortress. (f) Lacking force of utterance or sound; not sonorous; low; small; feeble; faint. A voice not soft, weak, piping, and womanish. Ascham.
(g) Not thoroughly or abundantly impregnated with the usual or required ingredients, or with stimulating and nourishing substances; of less than the usual strength; as, weak tea, broth, or liquor; a weak decoction or solution; a weak dose of medicine. (h) Lacking ability for an appropriate function or office; as, weak eyes; a weak stomach; a weak magistrate; a weak regiment, or army.
2. Not possessing or manifesting intellectual, logical, moral, or political strength, vigor, etc. Specifically: - (a) Feeble of mind; wanting discernment; lacking vigor; spiritless; as, a weak king or magistrate. To think every thing disputable is a proof of a weak mind and captious temper. Beattie. Origen was never weak enough to imagine that there were two Gods. Waterland.
(b) Resulting from, or indicating, lack of judgment, discernment, or firmness; unwise; hence, foolish. If evil thence ensue, She first his weak indulgence will accuse. Milton.
(c) Not having full confidence or conviction; not decided or confirmed; vacillating; wavering. Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. Rom. xiv. 1.
(d) Not able to withstand temptation, urgency, persuasion, etc.; easily impressed, moved, or overcome; accessible; vulnerable; as, weak resolutions; weak virtue. Guard thy heart On this weak side, where most our nature fails. Addison.
(e) Wanting in power to influence or bind; as, weak ties; a weak sense of honor of duty. (f) Not having power to convince; not supported by force of reason or truth; unsustained; as, a weak argument or case. "Convinced of his weak arguing." Milton. A case so weak . . . hath much persisted in. Hooker.
(g) Wanting in point or vigor of expression; as, a weak sentence; a weak style. (h) Not prevalent or effective, or not felt to be prevalent; not potent; feeble. "Weak prayers." Shak. (i) Lacking in elements of political strength; not wielding or having authority or energy; deficient in the resources that are essential to a ruler or nation; as, a weak monarch; a weak government or state. I must make fair weather yet awhile, Till Henry be more weak, and I more strong. Shak. (k) (Stock Exchange)
Defn: Tending towards lower prices; as, a weak market.
3. (Gram.) (a) Pertaining to, or designating, a verb which forms its preterit (imperfect) and past participle by adding to the present the suffix - ed, -d, or the variant form -t; as in the verbs abash, abashed; abate, abated; deny, denied; feel, felt. See Strong, 19 (a). (b) Pertaining to, or designating, a noun in Anglo-Saxon, etc., the stem of which ends in -n. See Strong, 19 (b).
Note: Weak is often used in the formation of self-explaining compounds; as, weak-eyed, weak-handed, weak-hearted, weak-minded, weak-spirited, and the like.
Weak conjugation (Gram.), the conjugation of weak verbs; — called also new, or regular, conjugation, and distinguished from the old, or irregular, conjugation. — Weak declension (Anglo-Saxon Gram.), the declension of weak nouns; also, one of the declensions of adjectives. — Weak side, the side or aspect of a person's character or disposition by which he is most easily affected or influenced; weakness; infirmity. — Weak sore or ulcer (Med.), a sore covered with pale, flabby, sluggish granulations.
WEAKWeak, v. t. & i. Etym: [Cf. AS. w. wacian. See Weak, a.]
Defn: To make or become weak; to weaken. [R.]Never to seek weaking variety. Marston.
WEAKENWeak"en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Weakened; p. pr. & vb. n. Weakening.]
1. To make weak; to lessen the strength of; to deprive of strength; to debilitate; to enfeeble; to enervate; as, to weaken the body or the mind; to weaken the hands of a magistrate; to weaken the force of an objection or an argument. Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Neh. vi. 9.
2. To reduce in quality, strength, or spirit; as, to weaken tea; to weaken any solution or decoction.
WEAKENWeak"en, v. i.
Defn: To become weak or weaker; to lose strength, spirit, or determination; to become less positive or resolute; as, the patient weakened; the witness weakened on cross-examination. "His notion weakens, his discernings are lethargied." Shak.
WEAKENERWeak"en*er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, weakens. "[Fastings] weakeners of sin."South.
WEAKFISHWeak"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any fish of the genus Cynoscion; a squeteague; — so called from its tender mouth. See Squeteague. Spotted weakfish (Zoöl.), the spotted squeteague.
WEAK-HEARTEDWeak"-heart`ed, a.
Defn: Having little courage; of feeble spirit; dispirited; faint- hearted. "Weak-hearted enemies." Shak.
WEAKISHWeak"ish, a.
Defn: Somewhat weak; rather weak.
WEAKISHNESSWeak"ish*ness, n.
Defn: Quality or state of being weakish.
WEAK-KNEEDWeak"-kneed`, a.
Defn: Having weak knees; hence, easily yielding; wanting resolution.H. James.
WEAKLINGWeak"ling, n. Etym: [Weak + -ling.]
Defn: A weak or feeble creature. Shak. "All looking on him as a weakling, which would post to the grave." Fuller. We may not be weaklings because we have a strong enemy. Latimer.
WEAKLINGWeak"ling, a.
Defn: Weak; feeble. Sir T. North.
WEAKLYWeak"ly, adv.
Defn: In a weak manner; with little strength or vigor; feebly.
WEAKLYWeak"ly, a. [Compar. Weaklier; superl. Weakliest.]
Defn: Not strong of constitution; infirm; feeble; as, a weakly woman; a man of a weakly constitution.
WEAK-MINDEDWeak"-mind`ed, a.
Defn: Having a weak mind, either naturally or by reason of disease; feebleminded; foolish; idiotic. — Weak"-mind`ed*ness, n.
WEAKNESSWeak"ness, n.
1. The quality or state of being weak; want of strength or firmness; lack of vigor; want of resolution or of moral strength; feebleness.
2. That which is a mark of lack of strength or resolution; a fault; a defect. Many take pleasure in spreading abroad the weakness of an exalted character. Spectator.
Syn. — Feebleness; debility; languor; imbecility; infirmness; infirmity; decrepitude; frailty; faintness.
WEALWeal, n.
Defn: The mark of a stripe. See Wale.
WEALWeal, v. t.
Defn: To mark with stripes. See Wale.
WEALWeal, n. Etym: [OE. wele, AS. wela, weola, wealth, from wel well. SeeWell, adv., and cf. Wealth.]
1. A sound, healthy, or prosperous state of a person or thing; prosperity; happiness; welfare. God . . . grant you wele and prosperity. Chaucer. As we love the weal of our souls and bodies. Bacon. To him linked in weal or woe. Milton. Never was there a time when it more concerned the public weal that the character of the Parliament should stand high. Macaulay.
2. The body politic; the state; common wealth. [Obs.] The special watchmen of our English weal. Shak.
WEALWeal, v. t.
Defn: To promote the weal of; to cause to be prosperous. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
WEAL-BALANCEDWeal"-bal`anced, a.
Defn: Balanced or considered with reference to public weal. [Obs.]Shak.
WEALDWeald, n. Etym: [AS. See Wold.]
Defn: A wood or forest; a wooded land or region; also, an open country; — often used in place names. Fled all night long by glimmering waste and weald, And heard the spirits of the waste and weald Moan as she fled. Tennyson. Weald clay (Geol.), the uppermost member of the Wealden strata. See Wealden.
WEALDENWeald"en, a. Etym: [AS. weald, wald, a forest, a wood. So calledbecause this formation occurs in the wealds, or woods, of Kent andSussex. See Weald.] (Geol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the lowest division of the Cretaceous formation in England and on the Continent, which overlies the Oölitic series.
WEALDENWeald"en, n. (Geol.)
Defn: The Wealden group or strata.
WEALDISHWeald"ish, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a weald, esp. to the weald in the county ofKent, England. [Obs.] Fuller.
WEALFULWeal"ful, a.
Defn: Weleful. [Obs.] Chaucer.
WEALSMANWeals"man, n.; pl. Wealsmen. Etym: [Weal + man.]
Defn: A statesman; a politician. [R.] Shak.
WEALTHWealth, n. Etym: [OE. welthe, from wele; cf. D. weelde luxury. SeeWeal prosperity.]
1. Weal; welfare; prosperity; good. [Obs.] "Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth." 1 Cor. x. 24.
2. Large possessions; a comparative abundance of things which are objects of human desire; esp., abundance of worldly estate; affluence; opulence; riches. I have little wealth to lose. Shak. Each day new wealth, without their care, provides. Dryden. Wealth comprises all articles of value and nothing else. F. A. Walker. Active wealth. See under Active.
Syn.— Riches; affluence; opulence; abundance.
WEALTHFULWealth"ful, a.
Defn: Full of wealth; wealthy; prosperous. [R.] Sir T. More.— Wealth"ful*ly, adv. [R.]
WEALTHILYWealth"i*ly, adv.
Defn: In a wealthy manner; richly.I come to wive it wealthily in Padua. Shak.
WEALTHINESSWealth"i*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being wealthy, or rich; richness; opulence.
WEALTHYWealth"y, a. [Compar. Wealthier; superl. Wealthiest.]
1. Having wealth; having large possessions, or larger than most men, as lands, goods, money, or securities; opulent; affluent; rich. A wealthy Hebrew of my tribe. Shak. Thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place. Ps. lxvi. 12.
2. Hence, ample; full; satisfactory; abundant. [R.] The wealthy witness of my pen. B. Jonson.
WEAN Wean, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Weaned; p. pr. & vb. n. Weaning.] Etym: [OE. wenen, AS. wenian, wennan, to accustom; akin to D. wennen, G. gewöhnen, OHG. giwennan, Icel. venja, Sw. vänja, Dan. vænne, Icel. vanr accustomed, wont; cf. AS. awenian to wean, G. entwöhnen. See Wont, a.]
1. To accustom and reconcile, as a child or other young animal, to a want or deprivation of mother's milk; to take from the breast or udder; to cause to cease to depend on the mother nourishment. And the child grew, and was weaned; and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned. Gen. xxi. 8.
2. Hence, to detach or alienate the affections of, from any object of desire; to reconcile to the want or loss of anything. "Wean them from themselves." Shak. The troubles of age were intended . . . to wean us gradually from our fondness of life. Swift.
WEANWean, n.
Defn: A weanling; a young child.I, being but a yearling wean. Mrs. Browning.
WEANEDNESSWean"ed*ness, n.
Defn: Quality or state of being weaned.
WEANELWean"el, n.
Defn: A weanling. [Obs.] Spenser.
WEANLINGWean"ling,
Defn: a. & n. from Wean, v.The weaning of the whelp is the great test of the skill of the kennelman. J. H. Walsh.Weaning brash. (Med.) See under Brash.
WEANLINGWean"ling, n. Etym: [Wean + -ling.]
Defn: A child or animal newly weaned; a wean.
WEANLINGWean"ling, a.
Defn: Recently weaned. Milton.
WEAPON Weap"on, n. Etym: [OE. wepen, AS. w; akin to OS. w, OFries. w, w, D. wapen, G. waffe, OHG. waffan, wafan, Icel. vapn, Dan. vaaben, Sw. vapen, Goth. w, pl.; of uncertain origin. Cf. Wapentake.]
1. An instrument of offensive of defensive combat; something to fight with; anything used, or designed to be used, in destroying, defeating, or injuring an enemy, as a gun, a sword, etc. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal. 2 Cor. x. 4. They, astonished, all resistance lost, All courage; down their idle weapons dropped. Milton.