Pa. t. and pa. pple. waited. Forms: 2–7 waite, 3–8 wayte, 4–7 wayt, (4 erron. whaite, whayte), 3–4, 6 Sc. waitte, 4–6 Sc. vaitte, 5 waytte, 6–7 waight, 4–6 Sc. watte, 8 dial. watt, 3–4 weite, 4–6 weyte, 7 weight, 3–6, 8 dial. wate, 4 vate, 4– wait. [Early ME. waite-n, a. ONF. waitier (Central OF. guaitier, gaiter, mod.F. guetter) = Prov. gaitar, It. guatare, to watch, lie in wait for; a. OHG. wahiân (mod.G. wachten) to watch, guard, f. wahta fem. (mod.G. wacht) watch, f. OTeut. *wak-: see WAKE v.]
I. The simple verb.
† 1. trans. To watch with hostile intent; to spy upon; to lie in wait for. Obs.
c. 1200. Vices & Virtues, 103. Ðat bið ðo werewede gostes ðe waitið ðo soules hier buuen on ðe wolkne.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 43. For ure gult god man bicom and ure eldre waiteden him to deaðe. Ibid., 87. Þanne ferde þe fule gost, and seuene oðre gostes mid him forcuðere þen him self were, and bitrumede þat child, and waiteden hit on eche wise.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 23731. Euer he wates vs þat fede, es nathing certainur þan dede.
c. 1300. Havelok, 512. He may [me] waiten for to slo.
1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 1186. His despisers he waytes ay, Als shadow to tak to his pray.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, ii. (Peter), 22. In Jerusalem he wes bofte, spyit, waitit, and bundyn ofte.
c. 1420. Wyntoun, Cron., V. xi. 3062 (MS. Cott.). Ane erl of his companny Waytit Traen sa besely Þat wiþe a buschement he has [slayn] Traen.
a. 1450. Le Morte Arth., 74. Sir agravayne at home is he, nyght & day he waytes vs two.
1530. Palsgr., 770/2. I wayte, I lye awayte for one to hurte hym, or to spye what he dothe. Je guette. I wyll wayte him here tyll to morowe but I wyll have him.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.), II. 22. He thairfor appoynted certan cutthrots to wayt thame as fra the Banquet thay return.
1597. J. Melvill, Autob. & Diary (Wodrow Soc.), 421. They steir upe and incitats four deboshit young limmers, and wattes … James Smithe, as he was coming ham at night from the cost syde.
† b. intr. To keep hostile watch; to lie in wait.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 196. Iðe wildernesse heo aspieden [MS. C. in þe wildene weiteden] us to slean.
a. 1300. E. E. Psalter ix. 30. He waites [Vulg. insidiatur] in hidel als lioun in den.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 899. Þou sal waite womman for to sting, And sco sal yiet þi hede bring.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. VII. 149. To kepen him … From wastors þat wayten winners to schende.
1404–8[?]. Wyt & Wille, 30, in 26 Pol. Poems, 23. Echon wayte oþer for to kille.
1535. Coverdale, Obad. i. 14. Nether shalt thou stonde waytinge enymore at ye corners of the stretes, to murthur soch as are fled.
1573–80. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 125. Lay pease vpon stacke,… And couer it straight, from doues that waight.
† 2. trans. To be on the watch to inflict (injury): = AWAIT v. 2. Obs.
The sense is app. due to the confusion of this vb. with WAIT v.2
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 13012. Noght warre of the weghes, þat waited his harme, [He] past furth thurgh the pase with his proude knightes.
† 3. To watch, keep one’s eye upon, observe constantly; to look out for, watch for. Obs.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 13285. At see sant Iohn and Iam he fand, Quils þai þair lines war waitand.
c. 1300. Havelok, 1754. And bad him … Hauelok wel yemen … And wel do wayten al þe nith.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 99. Fechez mo gestez, Waytez gorstez & greuez, if ani gomez lyggez,… fechez hem hider.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Sqr.’s T., 121. He wayted many a constellacion Er he had doon this operacion.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 2888. Wemen waited hym well, hade wondur of hym one, That of shap for to shew was shene to beholde.
c. 1400. Rule St. Benet, 863. And when so we ȝern ony thing Þat may fall vnto flesch likyng, Thinke we god waites vs weterly.
c. 1450. St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 1698. Whethir þou wayted our nyght wayes? Ibid., 3761. A monk to wayte þis taken stode.
† b. To watch mentally, observe, consider attentively. Obs.
1382. Wyclif, Phil. iii. 27. Britheren,… wayte ȝe [Vulg. observate] hem that walken so as ȝe han oure foorme.
1399. Langl., Rich. Redeles, Prol. 45. Ther nys no gouernour on þe grounde ne sholde gye him þe better … Ȝif he waite well þe wordis, and so werche þerafter.
c. 1430. God’s Complaint, 57, in Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1866), 165. Waite what y dide to marie maudeleyne, And what y seide to thomas of ynde.
† c. To watch over, take charge of, care for (a person’s interests). Obs.
13[?]. Cursor M., 5416 (Gött.). Þus coude ihoseph, i said ȝou, waite his lauerd þe kinges prou.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. VI. 37. I haue ben his felawe þis fiftene wynter … With-Innen and withouten I-wayted his profyt.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 164. If thou my wyrchipe wayte … Thou salle haue gersoms fulle grett.
c. 1400. Rule St. Benet, 2471. Þeir awn winyng þai sal not wayt, Þat oþer win þai sal couayt.
† d. To search for. Obs.
1340–70. Alisaunder, 808. Hee wendes too a wildernes & waites him erbes.
c. 1400. Beryn, 424. Þe Pardonere, þat drewe apart, & weytid hym a trest ffor to hyde hym selff.
† 4. intr. To keep watch; to look intently. Also with adv. or phrase, to wait about, about one, on every side, etc. Obs.
1338. R. Brunne, Chron. (1725), 120. Hir frendes fulle fast waited aboute & woke, & Mald at þe last kyng Steuen scho toke.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 2163. Þenne he wayted hym aboute.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1423. He waytez onwyde, his wenches he byholdes.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. VIII. 128. And þorw heore wordes I awok and waitide [MS. V. lokede] aboute, And sauh [etc.]. Ibid. (1377), B. XIII. 343. I wayted wisloker, and thanne was it soiled With lykyng of lecherye, as by lokyng of his eye.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 876. He waites vmbe hym wightly, & was ware sone Of þe orible oxin.
c. 1400. Ywaine & Gaw., 1815. Sho … waited obout fer and ner.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alex., 1585. And as he waytis in a wra, þan was he ware sone Of þe maister of þat meneyhe.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, VI. xvi. 209. Ther with he wayted aboue hym and vnder hym, and ouer his hede he sawe a rownsepyk.
c. 1480. Henryson, Fox & Wolf, 150. On euerilk syde full warlie couth he wait.
a. 1500. Flower & Leaf, 106. Wherfore about I waited busily On every syde, if I her mighte see.
† b. To act as a watchman. Obs.
1436. Siege of Calais, in Polit. Poems (Rolls), II. 153. The porters kept the gattes full manly,… To wate they wer not irk.
c. 1470. Harding, Chron. CXXXVIII. xii. To castell Pilgrym … there was no waye but one full straite, On a cawsey … Strongly walled, with towres on to wayte.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., I. iii. 3. I am come to suruey the Tower this day; Where be these Warders, that they wait not here?
1605. Verstegan, Dec. Intell., x. (1628), 327. Wee call him that waiteth at the Towre one of the ward, or a warder.
† c. To observe carefully. Obs.
1399. Langl., Rich. Redeles, III. 128. Ȝit swiche ffresshe ffoodis beth … ffor her dignesse endauntid of dullisshe nollis, And, if þou well waite, of no wight ellis.
† d. With indirect question: To watch, observe carefully what, when, how, etc. Obs.
c. 1275. Lay., 23077. Þis ileueþ Bruttus þat he wole come þus and lokeþ and waiteþ wane he come to londe.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., 268. Euere he waytede, ȝif ore louerd ani grace him wolde sende.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 1495. He sente knyghtes & squiers To waite who made on hym pres.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 1821. I wol … waite ȝif any weiȝh comes wending alone.
c. 1391. Chaucer, Astrol., II. § 25. Now yif so be þat the semith to long a tarienge…, thanne whaite whan the sonne is in any other degree of the zodiak.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, V. 902. A suerd he drew, rych manlik him to wer, Ay wayttand fast gyff he can get a sper.
1598. R. Bernard, trans. Terence (1607), Andria, I. i. Observes illum quid agat: quid captet consilii. Watch him what hee doth, wait what he intendeth.
† e. To take precautions, be watchful or cautious. In imperative: Take care, see to it that.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 292. I schal wayte to be war her wrenchez to kepe.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prol., 571. Algate he wayted so in his achat That he was ay biforn and in good stat.
c. 1460. J. Russell, Bk. Nurture, 436, in Babees Bk. Euer of a sharpe knyff wayte þat ye be sure.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, I. ii. 37. But wayte ye make not many questions with her nor her men, but saye ye are diseased, and soo hye yow to bedde.
1522. World & Child (facs.), A iv. Wayte well that thou suffre no shame.
5. trans. To look forward (esp. with desire or apprehension) to (some future event or contingency); to continue in expectation of. Now somewhat rare: usually superseded by AWAIT v.
a. 1400. Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS., 527/80. Ȝif þou waxe pore he wol skorne þe—Wayle of him neuere oþer bounte.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 3322. I wot, sir, witterly, will I or noght, Your wille I moste wirke, waite I non other.
c. 1586. C’tess Pembroke, Ps. LXIX. i. Waiting aid, with ernest eying.
1634. Massinger, Very Wom., IV. i. Ped. I thank ye, And soon I’ll wait your promise.
1671–2. Sir C. Lyttelton, in Hatton Corr. (Camden), 75. Wee waite much wht ye Spaniards will returne to ye King of France message.
1746. Francis, trans. Hor., Epist., I. xviii. 21. Admitted as an humble Guest, Where Men of Money break their Jest, He waits the Nod, with Awe profound, And catches, ere it reach the Ground, The falling Joke.
1802. H. Martin, Helen of Glenross, II. 57. If Harry really loves me…, bid him wait futurity with composure.
1830. Tennyson, Adeline, iv. What aileth thee? whom waitest thou?
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. I. i. Or they that in the Bicêtre Hospital, ‘eight to a bed,’ lie waiting their manumission.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, xl. She took up her residence with Mr. Bowls … and waited the result of the advertisement.
1885. J. H. Dell, Dawning Grey, Higher Creed, 6. We wait the harps of sounder string, Than [etc.].
b. intr. (Chiefly to wait for = sense 5).
1577. Hanmer, Anc. Eccl. Hist., Socr., I. xix. 245. When the woman perceaued her selfe to be daungerously sicke, and wayted for no other then present death.
1581. Satir. Poems Reform., xliv. 266. I knaw thou vaittis Lieutenentis place to haue.
a. 1591. H. Smith, Serm., Noah’s Drunk. (1602), G 4 b. The ground … wayted for nothing now, but a paynefull labourer to till and dresse it.
1621. T. Granger, Expos. Eccles. xi. 5. 297. And hee that waiteth for olde mens shoes, may happily goe bare foote in the meane time.
1641. Milton, Reform., II. 87. These importunate Wolves, that wait and thinke long till they devoure thy tender Flock.
1805. Med. Jrnl., XIV. 374. We wait with anxiety but not with impatience for the succeeding numbers.
1833. Tennyson, Dream Fair Wom., xxviii. Dimly I could descry The stern black-bearded Kings…, Waiting to see me die.
c. To remain for a time without something expected or promised.
1550. Crowley, Last Trumpet, 935. If thou be a mans atturney, Let him not waite and spende money, If his dispatch do lie in the.
1897. Hall Caine, Christian, x. That was the only condition on which he would agree to wait for his money.
6. trans. To continue stationary or quiescent, in expectation of (a person or thing, an event); to defer departure or action until the arrival or occurrence of. Now rare: superseded by wait for (see 7) and AWAIT v.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, V. 36. Tharfor thair cummyng vatit he, And met thame at thair ariving.
14[?]. Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1903), 273. Mary hys moder went þe weye To caluery þer he xuld deye, And waytyd þer here chylde.
1578. in Feuillerat, Revels Q. Eliz. (1908), 297. To waight my Lord Chamberlaines comyng thither.
a. 1604. Hanmer, Chron. Irel. (1633), 59. From thence he went to a place called Lothra, where he builded another Monasterie, and lyeth there wayting the generall resurrection.
1662. Stillingfl., Orig. Sacræ, II. vi. § 2. That where there were any other evidences, that the Prophet spake by Divine Revelation, there was no reason to wait the fulfilling of every particular Prophecy before he was believed as a Prophet.
1667. Dryden & Dk. Newcastle, Sir M. Mar-all, I. 1. This Tide will bring them from Gravesend. You had best let your man go, as from me, And wait them at the Stairs in Durham-yard.
1771. Mrs. Griffith, Hist. Lady Barton, II. 253. We had before agreed to wait the return of the chancellor’s messenger at St. Omers.
1797. Ht. Lee, Canterb. T., Frenchm. T. (1799), I. 293. Without waiting her answer … he would have led her down stairs.
1802. Noble Wanderers, II. 128. One of the slaves, whom he had commanded to wait his return.
1808. Pike, Sources Mississ., II. App. 22. We were requested to halt and wait the arrival of the chief, who was half a mile from us.
1816. Scott, Old Mort., xxxviii. Lady Emily’s servant was waiting orders in the kitchen. Ibid. (1819), Leg. Montrose, xxiii. She now waits you at the altar.
1883. Whitelaw, Sophocles, Philoct., 123. Now then remain, and wait his coming here, Whilst I go hence.
1899. Quiller-Couch, Ship of Stars, xxvi. The Vicar clambered out to wait it [the coffin].
b. transf. Of things: To remain in readiness for, to await; to be in store for, to be reserved for. Cf. AWAIT v. 8 a.
1745. Sc. Transl. & Paraphr., LI. i. Put better mansions wait the just, prepar’d above the sky.
1761. Churchill, Rosciad, 512. Public Contempt shall wait the Public Fool.
1850. Robertson, Serm., Ser. III. xviii. (1853), 233. The same … calculations wait us when we bend our eyes on that which is to come.
1854. Surtees, Handley Cr., xl. (1901), II. 36. ‘Tea and coffee wait your pleasure in the drawing-room,’ observed the still-necked footman.
7. intr. or absol. Often to wait for = sense 6.
a. To remain in a place, defer one’s departure until something happens.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 71. And certes lord, to abyden youre presence Heere in the temple of the goddesse clemence We han ben waitynge al this fourtenyght.
1535. Coverdale, Judith x. 6. Now whan she came to the porte of the cite, she founde Osias and the elders of the cite waitinge there.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 642. But he was espyed by diuerse watermen … which wayted for his foorthcomyng on the Thamys.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, I. iii. 17. I must bee sad when I haue cause, and smile at no mans iests, eat when I haue stomacke, and wait for no mans leisure.
1628. Ford, Lover’s Mel., III. i. At the back dore Tatter-demallians waite, who know not how To get admittance.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 132, ¶ 1. I … dressed immediately, that I might make no one wait.
1779. Mirror, No. 57. Allowing ladies to go unattended to a public place, to wait there four hours in expectation of the gentlemen with whom they were to dance.
1835. Dickens, Sk. Boz, Parish, iii. The old adage, ‘time and tide wait for no man.’
1856. Ruskin, King Golden River, i. (ed. 3), 12. What did you keep us waiting in the rain for?
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. xxii. 152. At the summit of these rocks I again waited for him.
1896. Conan Doyle, Rodney Stone, xxii. Sir James Ovington’s carriage was waiting without.
1905. R. Bagot, Passport, xi. 104. I must drive back to Genzano. I told the vetturino to wait.
b. colloq. To wait about: to linger expectantly, ‘hang about’ where something is likely to happen. Also (chiefly U.S.) to wait around.
1879. Miss Braddon, Cloven Foot, xxix. II. 268. ‘What has become of your brother?’ Laura asked, as she and Celia waited about, side by side, watching the assembly of the field.
1886. Besant, Childr. Gibeon, II. xxx. The street was, however, well enough lighted for Claude to see a figure waiting about on the pavement.
1895. M. Halstead, Hundred Bear Stor., 57. It grew sort of monotonous waiting around.
1899. J. L. Williams, Stolen Story, etc., 175. I suppose they’re waiting around till it stops raining.
c. To defer action until some event has taken place; also with inf., to delay to do something.
a. 1633. G. Herbert, Outlandish Prov. (1640), 25. Hee puls with a long rope, that waights for anothers death.
1800. Med. Jrnl., III. 460. To wait ‘no longer than ten or fifteen minutes for the efforts of nature,’ is a position which cannot be too strongly reprobated.
1836. J. H. Newman, Par. Serm., III. xxi. 342. If we wait till all the world are worshippers, we must wait till the world is new made.
1843. Carlyle, Past & Pr., II. xv. A whole Eternity I waited to be born.
1852. Thackeray, Esmond, I. viii. Beatrix … waited even to burst out a-crying until she got to the door.
1874. Green, Short Hist., viii. § 6. 519. He had shown he knew how to wait, and when waiting was over he knew how to act.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 434. A man should wait, and not take his own life until God summons him.
1883. Whitelaw, Sophocles, Philoct., 837. Thou seest, now is the time. Why should we wait to do this deed?
d. To wait on: (a) Sc. to linger about a place; (b) Sc. also, to linger in expectation of death; (c) Hawking (see quot. 1891).
(a) 1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., xii. It’s a sair thing to hae to do wi’ courts of law, unless it be to improve one’s knowledge … by waiting on as a hearer.
(b) 1836. J. M. Wilson’s Tales Borders, II. 377. I did hear tell that his faither was waitin on, but I hope he’s no that far gane yet.
(c) 1773. J. Campbell, Mod. Faulconry, 158. If your hawk wait well on at her being first entered.
1828. Sir J. S. Sebright, Hawking (1828), 17. He [the hawk] may thus be made to follow the falconer wherever he pleases; this is called waiting on.
1891. Harting, Bibl. Accipitr., 231. A hawk is said to ‘wait on’ when she soars in circles over the head of the falconer, waiting for the game to be flushed.
e. Racing. To wait off: to allow oneself to be distanced by other competitors in order to ‘romp in’ when their energies are exhausted. Cf. WAITING vbl. sb.1 2 c.
1856. ‘Druid,’ Post & Paddock, vi. 91. He patiently waited off, while Sancho forced the running.
f. To wait up: to defer going to bed in expectation of the arrival of some one.
1855. Trollope, Warden, xviii. Dr. Grantly … and Mrs. Grantly … are waiting up for you.
1892. Temple Bar, Oct., 169. Don’t wait up for me.
g. To wait and see (with indirect question or ellipsis of this): to await the course of events.
Recently often used with allusion to Mr. H. H. Asquith’s repented reply of ‘Wait and see’ to a succession of questions in parliament.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, I. (Globe), 267. However, we had no Remedy, but to wait and see what the Issue of Things might present.
1836. Dickens, Sk. Boz, Scotland-Yard. The tailor … bid them wait and see what happened. Ibid. (1848), Dombey, xxxv. Mr. Towlinson … says wait and see.
1883. Miss M. Betham-Edwards, Disarmed, viii. When we have had dinner, we will do something better than have stories. Wait and see.
attrib. 1915. F. S. Oliver, Ordeal by Battle, I. vii. 81–2. History, which shows us at every other crisis of this sort always the same triangle of forces—a War party, a Peace party, and a Wait-and-See party.
h. transf. Of a thing: To remain in readiness for some purpose. Also, to remain for a while neglected.
1838. Lytton, Alice, I. iii. ‘So you are come for your daily lesson?’ ‘Yes; but Tasso can wait if [etc.].’
1876. J. Parker, Paracl., I. ii. 14. John’s gospel is waiting until the Church becomes mature enough to understand it.
1894. Hall Caine, Manxman, VI. xvii. There was a letter waiting for Philip at home.
Mod. This letter must be answered at once; the others can wait.
i. quasi-trans. To postpone (a meal) in expectation of the arrival of some one. colloq.
1838. Dickens, O. Twist, li. ‘It’s a trying thing waiting supper for lovers,’ said Mr. Grimwig, waking up.
1862. Trollope, Orley F., xxi. Who asked you to wait tea till near eleven o’clock?
8. Phrases. To wait one’s (or the) time, hour, opportunity, etc. † a. (sense 3) To watch, look out for an opportunity (obs.). b. (sense 6) To defer action until a fitting season or opportunity shall present itself.
a. a. 1300. Cursor M., 19715. Þair redes þar-for can þai run,… Night and dai to wait þe time Quen þai moght cum to murther him.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 825. Weyte þy tyme, and be not þe last To come whan holy watyr ys cast. Ibid. (1338), Chron. (1725), 94. To triste was he sette, forto waite þe chance.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, V. 523. He hame till his houss is gane, And vatit oportunite For to fulfill his mawite.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Frankl. T., 535. Nyght and day he spedde hym þat he kan To wayten a tyme of his conclusion.
c. 1420. Wyntoun, Cron., VI. xiii. 1220 (MS. Cott.). Twa men he bade in prewate To wayt ane oportunyte, And stel þat barn.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 83. Waytynge theyr vauntage whan they may smyte the & slee the.
b. c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, iii. (Andrew), 999. Þe bischope had gret will his fellone lust to fulfill, waitand bot lasare quhen he mycht purchess oportunite.
1626. B. Jonson, Staple of N., II. ii. Well, Sir, I’ll wait a better season.
1701. W. Wotton, Hist. Rome, Marcus, iv. 59. Cassius was obliged to wait his opportunity.
1799. Dundas, in Owen, Wellesley Desp. (1877), 644. We cannot at present materially meliorate his government, but must wait favourable opportunities.
1813. Scott, Rokeby, I. xxix. She comes not—He will wait the hour, When her lamp lightens in the tower.
9. To be in readiness to receive orders; hence, to be in attendance as a servant; to attend as a servant does to the requirements of a superior. Chiefly const. on: see wait on, 14 j.
1526. Tindale, 1 Cor. ix. 13. They which wayte att the aulter are parttakers with the aultre.
1617. Moryson, Itin., II. 49. Yea, his Lordships very Grayhound, likewise vsing to waite at his stirrop, was shot through the body.
c. 1655. Milton, Sonn., ‘When I consider,’ 14. They also serve who only stand and waite.
1818. Scott, Br. Lamm., xviii. He … dropped a little behind the lady, at whose bridle-rein he had hitherto waited with such devotion.
b. To serve as an attendant at table; to hand food and drink to persons at a meal. Phr. to wait at table (cf. 14 j), † to wait at a trencher.
1568. T. Howell, Arb. Amitie, 36 b. (Iacke showes his qualities) Yee and ich can, if neede be than, waight at the table well. Ibid. Where ich did waite, at euerye baite.
1592. in Sir J. Harington’s Nugæ Antiq. (1804), I. 106. Item, That no man waite at the table, without a trencher in his hand.
1605. Breton, I pray you (Grosart), 8/2. To spend my time … onely for … waighting at a trencher, looking on a faire house.
c. 1618. Moryson, Itin., IV. ii. (1903), 90. These gentlemen servants waite with their hatts on, and sett at their masters table, both at home and abroad where their masters are invited.
1742. Fielding, J. Andrews, I. ii. Joey was now preferred from the stable to attend on his lady, to … wait at her tea-table [etc.].
1796–7. Jane Austen, Pride & Prej., xlvii. She had not prudence enough to hold her tongue before the servants, while they waited at table.
1853. Dickens, Bleak Ho., iv. The young woman with the flannel bandage waited, and dropped everything on the table wherever it happened to go.
1905. E. T. Thurston, Traffic, V. iv. ‘Is she a musician then [at the restaurant]?’ asked Mr. Puckle.
‘No—she waited.’
† c. To wait up: to be in attendance at the head of the table. Obs.
a. 1634. Chapman, Alphonsus, III. i. As for the Chambermaid and my self, we will take our places at the neither end, the Jester is to wait up, and live by the crums that fall from the Emperours trencher.
d. quasi-trans. To wait (the) table = to wait at table. Sc.
1879. Stevenson, Trav. Cevennes, 152. She waited the table with a heavy placable nonchalance. Ibid. (a. 1894), St. Ives, xi. (1898), 82. We had a good many pleasant passages as she waited table or warmed my bed for me.
† e. quasi-trans. To wait attendance: to remain in attendance. Obs.
1590. [see ATTENDANCE 5].
1607. Shaks., Timon, I. i. 160. I like your worke, And you shall finde I like it; Waite attendance Till you heare further from me.
† 10. trans. To attend or escort, to accompany for the purpose of rendering service or showing respect. Obs.
c. 1384. Chaucer, L. G. W., 1269. This Troyan, that … can so well doon alle his obeisaunces, And waytyn hire at festis & at dauncis.
a. 1598. Greene, Jas. IV., V. i. I must to Edenbourg, vnto the King, There to take charge and waight him in his warres.
1633. Massinger, Guardian, II. i. Jol. Waite me. Calyph. As your shadow. Exeunt Jol. Calyp.
1687. Dryden, Hind. & P., I. 557. She made a mannerly excuse to stay, Proffering the Hind to wait her half the way. Ibid. (1697), Æneis, VIII. 734. Steeds are prepar’d to mount the Trojan Band; Who wait their Leader to the Tyrrhene Land. Ibid., XI. 92. He … chose a thousand Horse … to wait the Funeral.
1725. Pope, Odyss., IV. 61. Refresh’d, they wait them to the bow’r of state. Ibid. (1728), Dunc., I. 265. She bids him wait her to her sacred Dome: Well pleas’d he enter’d.
1816. L. Hunt, Rimini, I. 242. His shield Borne by the squire that waits him to the field.
† b. absol. Obs.
1599. B. Jonson, Cynthia’s Rev., II. iii. One, that hath newly entertain’d the begger to follow him, but cannot get him to wait neere enough.
† 11. To attend as a concomitant or consequence.
1675. Traherne, Chr. Ethics, 330. Prudence consists most in attempting the business, for it will go on, and is ever waited with success when undertaken.
a. 1718. Prior, First Hymn Callimachus, 64. Swift Growth and wondrous Grace, O heav’nly Jove, Waited Thy blooming Years.
II. Special constructions with preps.
† 12. Wait after —. a. To expect, look forward to; to be ambitious or desirous of, seek for. Obs.
1393. Gower, Conf., III. 323. This Leonin … waiteth after gret beyete; But al for noght.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. II. 124. Hewes in þe halyday after hete wayten.
c. 1440. Generydes, 2440. He is descendid of an high lenage, And … waytith after right grete heritage.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., II. i. 135. That we waite not aftir to be hoosilid with the sacrament of the auter. Ibid., V. ii. 489. Certis he may not waite aftir that the conclusioun of this argument be proued or be trewe.
c. 1489. Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, xix. 423. It is not for vs to wayte after pyte of hym, for he is over cruell a kyng vpon us.
1533. trans. Erasm. Comm. Crede, 52 b. They do wayte after a kynge plentuosly appoynted with ryches, with armies or hostes of men, and with other worldly aydes.
† b. To look out for; to watch, keep in observation. Obs.
c. 1400. Beryn, 1589. Beryne clepid a Marynere, & bad hym ‘sty on lofft, And weyte aftir our four Shippis, [þat] aftir vs doith dryve.’
1450–1530. Myrr. our Ladye, I. xx. 54. He sawe a fende that … wayted bysely after all letters, and syllables, and wordes, and faylynges, that eny made.
c. 1489. Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, xxvi. 553. Thenne they set theymselfe doun vpon the fayr grasse, waytynge after theyr adverse party.
Wait for —: see 5 b, 7.
13. Wait of —.
† a. To execute the commands of. Obs.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, I. xi. (1912), 69. He would extol the deeds of Philoxenus, who indeede had but waited of him therin. Ibid., V. (1598), 465. A Counseller, who hath … the reasonable excuse of a seruant, that did but wait of his mistresse.
† b. To escort, accompany on the way, as a mark of honor: = wait on, 14 k. Obs.
1563. Foxe, A. & M., 860/1. This deponent … receyued the kynges maiesties Visitors at Chichester,… and conducted and wayted of them into the dioces of Wynton.
1606. Chapman, Gentl. Usher, III. ii. 77. Waite of Master Usher to the doore.
1709. N. Blundell, Diary (1895), 78. I Wated of ye Duke and Dutches of Norfolk &c. out of Wigan part of their way towards Preston.
1724. Briton, No. 25. 110. Footmen … return when the Play is done to wait of them home.
1734. Adm. Gordon, in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. I. 193. At 9 acloake I sent my pinnace to wayte of General Lacy.
† c. To pay a respectful visit to: = wait on, 14 m. Obs.
1555. in Lodge, Illustr. Brit. Hist. (1791), I. 211. Trustyng shortely to wayte of yor Lordshyppe.
c. 1673. W. Mountagu, in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), I. 320. My Lord and his sons have been to see me at my chamber, but I had the misfortune to be abroad; and upon that score … I will wait of them again. Ibid. (1677), 324. I … shall acquaint his Lordship myself with it on Saturday, before which I cannot wait of him.
1707. N. Blundell, Diary (1895), 55. I went to Bold to wate of Mr. Molin[eux] but he was gon a hunting.
d. = wait for: see 7 a. Now dial.
1712. Tyldesley, Diary (1873), 23. Stayed alday at Dick Jackson’s watting of Mr. Blackborne, who came not till affter nine att night.
1828. Trial Wm. Dyon at York Assizes, 8. I was up waiting of my master until two o’clock.
14. Wait on or upon —.
† a. To observe, watch; to fix one’s eyes upon, gaze at. Obs.
c. 1384. Chaucer, H. Fame, 342. For though your loue laste a seson, Wayte vpon the conclusyon.
c. 1394. P. Pl. Crede, 361. Þei wilneþ worshipes—but waite on her dedes!
c. 1400. Rowland & O., 444. To þe castelle he wendes a pase And appone þe kirnells gase, to wayte appon þat were.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 13055. So Eger were all men Elan to se, For to waite on þat worthy went þai belyue.
c. 1430. Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 6344. Anoon Jewel to his ship sent To warn his men to be redie, On his comyng to waite and spie.
1538. Elyot, Dict., Inspecto, to behold attentiuely, to wayte on.
† b. To lie in wait for. Obs.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 349. Of his men a gret partie He made in buisshement abide, To waite on him in such a tide That he ne mihte here hond ascape.
1595. Locrine, IV. i. 183. Millions of diuels wayt vpon thy soule!
1628. Hobbes, Thucyd., II. (1629), 128. As they sayled along the shore, Phormio waited on them till they were out of the streight, intending to set vpon them in the open Sea.
† c. To secure, protect (oneself). Obs.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 12722. Þan he counseld Clunestra,… To be war of þat wegh, & wait on hir-seluyn.
† d. To attend to (a business, a duty). Obs.
1526. Tindale, Rom. xii. 7. Let hym that hath an office, wayte on his office. [Similarly in later versions.]
† e. With clause as obj.: To take care that. Obs.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 255. He wayted weill onn, be all meines possible, that nathyng dekayet of Justice in his Realme.
† f. To await, expect with desire or anxiety. Obs.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 7944. I wol the in witte to waite on myn end.
1608. Yorksh. Trag., viii. 23. Was this the answear I long waited on?
1642. Milton, Apol. Smect., 37. I perceave how hopelesse it will be to reach the heigth of their prayses at the accomplishment of that expectation that weights upon their noble deeds.
† g. To await the action of; to look to (a person) for something. Obs.
1682. Bunyan, Holy War (1905), 253. That the Prince that lay in the Leaguer without the Wall, waited upon them [the townsfolk] for an answer.
h. In Bible phrase, to place one’s hope in (God).
Very common in the Bible of 1611; rendering several Heb. verbs of identical meaning.
1535. Coverdale, Ps. lxi[i]. 1. My soule wayteth only vpon God, for of him commeth my helpe.
1611. Bible, Ps. xxv. 3. Let none that wait on the be ashamed.
† i. To remain in one place in expectation of = wait for (7 a). Obs.
1694. trans. Marten’s Voy. Spitzbergen, in Acc. Sev. Late Voy., II. 7. We were forced to wait on him above half an hour, before he came from underneath the Ice.
j. To attend as or in the manner of a servant to the personal requirements of; to minister to the comfort of. † Also in phrases, to wait on the cup, the trencher, the table (cf. 9 b).
To wait on (a person) hand and foot: see HAND sb. 56.
1509–10. Act 1 Hen. VIII., c. 14 § 1. No servyng manne waytyng uppon his maister … were eny garded Hose.
c. 1550. Cheke, Matt. iv. 11. Then let ye devel him go, and lo angels cam vnto him and waited on him.
1552. Huloet, Wayte on the cup, ad cyathos stare.
1575. Gascoigne, Glasse of Govt., Wks. 1910, II. 66. Wee should have beene fayne to wayte on the table, and to bee contented with their leavings after supper.
1602. Kyd’s Sp. Trag., II. v. (Addit.). His Maiestie the other day did grace him With waiting on his cup.
1615. G. Sandys, Trav., 80. When they grow old, they most grow contemptible, being put to do the drudgeries of the house, and many times to waite on their children.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, VII. xv. It is not my business, answered the Drawer, to wait upon the Chambers. If you come to that, answered the Maid, it is not my business to wait upon Gentlemen.
1847. Marryat, Childr. New Forest, iv. You can have no servants to wait upon you.
1866. Mrs. H. Wood, Mildred Arkell, xi. When I was only six years old I had to wait on Mamma and Charlotte.
1901. Alldridge, Sherbro, xii. 114. He is waited upon hand and foot.
k. To accompany on one’s way (as a mark of respect or to render service or assistance); to escort. Now rare (? exc. U.S.).
1450. W. Lomner, in Paston Lett., I. 124. With other shippis waytyng on hym.
1481. Cov. Leet Bk. (1908), 486. There shuld be xl sowdyers mo waged for a quarter of þe town wages to make vp a C men to wayte vppon the kyng in þis viage etc.
c. 1530. Tindale, Jonas, Prol. A vj b. Ande one yt cast out deuels in Christes name they forbade because he wayted not on them.
1585. Higins, Junius’ Nomencl., 517/1. Pronuba,… a bridemaid, or she that trimmeth and maketh ready the bride, and waiteth vpon her homeward to her husbands house.
1595. Shaks., John, V. vii. 98. Let it be so, and you my noble Prince,… Shall waite vpon your Fathers Funerall.
1601. Ld. Mountjoy, Lett., 13 Nov., in Moryson’s Itin., II. (1617), 155. We entertained them so well, that we waited on them to the walls of the Towne, and made them leave some of their dead bodies behind them.
1628. T. Ball, Life Preston (1885), 175. His friends at Cambridge, who did highly honour him, and desired nothing more then to have wayted on his dust to his long home.
1654. Evelyn, Diary, 4 July. On a letter from my wife’s uncle, Mr. Pretyman, I waited back on her to London.
1713. Tyldesley, Diary (1873), 107. Then went to wate on Judge Dormr out off the toun. Ibid., 125. He watted on her home.
1807–8. W. Irving, Salmag., iii. (1860), 51. On landing we were waited upon to our lodgings … by a vast and respectable escort.
1877. ‘Park Ludlow’ (Theron Brown), Wooden Spoon, vi. 129. Nick complied, and was waited on into the drawing-room.
transf. 1691. Tate, Petty’s Pol. Anat., Ded. to Dk. Ormond. Be pleas’d to permit this useful Treatise to wait on you to the Camp.
l. Hence (?) in Hunting, to wait close upon: to keep close to (the horse immediately in front).
1861. Whyte-Melville, Market Harb., xxv. Crasher … and Sawyer take their leaps abreast, the latter riding very quietly and carefully…. Luxury is waiting close upon them.
m. To pay a respectful visit to; to call upon with the intention of showing respect, asking a favor, or the like.
1501. Plumpton Corr. (Camden), 161. Also I shall wate one you at Nottingham one sunday next, except ye comand me contrary.
1594. O. B., Quest. Profit. Concern., 5. God willing he shall one day waight vpon you to better his knowledges.
1638. in Verney Mem. (1892), I. 279. I have A greate ambition yt you would please to honour me so farre as … to admitt me to waite upon you.
1664. Sir A. Bateman, in Extr. S. P. rel. Friends, III. (1912), 215. It is my Lord Chanselors comaund to mee, that I waite vpon your Honor to deliuer this inclosed letter to you.
1713. Addison, Guardian, No. 107, ¶ 3. She will wait upon any Lady at her own Lodging, and talk by the Clock after the Rate of three Guineas an Hour.
1765. R. Gem, in Jesse, Selwyn & Contemp. (1843), I. 367. The Baron D’Olbach and I intend ourselves the pleasure of waiting on you to dinner to-morrow.
1766. Goldsm., Vicar W., xxx. A person of distinction … sent his respects to the gentleman that was with us, and begged to know when he should think proper to be waited upon.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, xxvi. I took the liberty of waiting on her … to inquire if she could charge me with any little commission.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., ix. II. 474. The Primate and the few Spiritual Peers who happened to be then in London had orders to wait upon the King.
1885. Manch. Exam., 6 July, 4/7. A deputation had waited upon Lords Salisbury, Redesdale, and Roxburghe.
† transf. 1762. Wilkes, Lett., 21 Sept. (1769), I. 15. Sunday’s post brought me your lordship’s [letter] of the 17th, and by the return of it this waits on your lordship.
n. Of things: To accompany; to be associated with; to attend as a concomitant or consequence.
1579–80. North, Plutarch, Lycurgus (1595), 52. For no man is so … simple witted, as to bring into so povre and meane houses, bedsteads with siluer feete, imbrodered couerlets … nor such other like costly furniture and finenesse, as those things require to waite vpon them.
1605. Shaks., Macb., I. vii. 44. Letting I dare not, wait vpon I would, Like the poore Cat i’ th Addage. Ibid. (1611), Wint. T., V. i. 142. Infirmitie (Which waits vpon worne times).
1622. J. Taylor (Water P.), Farew. Tower Bottles, A 7. For ’tis a Maxim held in euery Nation, Great men are wayted on by Adulation.
1646. Crashaw, Steps to Temple, 33. To them shee gave the first and fairest Beame That waited on her Birth.
1657. Heylin, Eccles. Vind., II. iii. § 6. 146. Prayer … being an action meerly moral, was not withstanding to be waited on with such rites and gestures.
1692. Prior, Ode Imit. Hor., xi. Justice and Freedom on his Conquests wait.
1746. Hervey, Medit. (1818), 60. Her form was symmetry itself; every elegance breathed in her air; and all the graces waited on her motions.
1842. Lover, Handy Andy, i. Disappointment waited on all affairs in which he bore a part.
1859. Mill, Liberty, i. (1864), 2/2. Elective and responsible government became subject to the observations and criticisms which wait upon a great existing fact.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 299. Retribution is the suffering which waits upon injustice.
† o. To support the opinion of. Obs.
1639. Fuller, Holy War, IV. v. (1640), 175. The Master of the Sentences (waited on herein with other learned men) is of opinion, That [etc.].
† 15. Wait over —. To watch over. Obs.
Cf. OVERWAIT 3. (= supervise, Pecock).
1659. Hammond, Paraphr. Ps. lxxviii. 52. His … providence … continually waited over them, and provided supplies for all their wants.
† 16. Wait to —. To keep watch upon, attend carefully to. Obs.
c. 1440. York Myst., xxxiii. 253. Sirs, waites to þer wightis þat no wiles be wrought.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., III. xviii. 405. And skile whi al this is trewe may be perceyued weel ynowȝ of a diligent considerer, waiting weel to ech word which is now bifore here seid.
1508–13. Bk. Keruynge, in Babees Bk. (1868), 270. And wayte well to ye sewer how many dysshes be couered.
III. 17. Comb.: † wait-gleed [= OF. gaitetison], one who sits lazily watching the fire.
c. 1310. in Wright, Lyric P., xv. 47. Me calleth me fulle flet, ant waynoun wayte-glede.
