Obs. Also 4 weyte, waite, wayte. [app. a. ON. veita to show or do (kindness, etc.), less frequently to do (an ill turn), = OHG. weizen:—OTeut. type *waitjan, f. *wait- abl.-var. of *wit-: see WIT v. Confused with WAIT v.1: see AWAIT v. 2.]
1. trans. a. With thing as direct obj. and dative of person: To show (unkindness) to, to put (disgrace, suffering, etc.) on. b. In similar sense, but with changed construction: To treat (a person) with (unkindness, cruelty, etc.), to affect with (disgrace, suffering, etc.).
a. 1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 5987. Þeft he wyl vpon hym wyte, Or ouþer skaþe he wyl hym weyte.
c. 1330. Arth. & Merl. (Kölbing), 352. Ac ferst þai sworen him an oþ, Þai schuld him neuer waite loþ.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 148. He … þouȝt … he wold … wayte hire sum wicked torn. Ibid., 4051. Þat no burn nere so bold … to waite þe werwolf no maner schaþe.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 3938. Therfore close I shall the weie Fro her that … come to wayte me vilonye.
c. 1450. Erle Tolous, 296. Certys hyt were a traytory, For to wayte hym velany.
1450. Rolls of Parlt., V. 183/2. Ye shall not shewe nor wayte … noo malice … to any persone.
1548. Udall, etc., Erasm. Par. Matt. iv. 23–5. Sum came for malice with a mynde to wayte displeasure.
1601. Holland, Pliny, X. lxxiv. I. 308. The bird Ægithus, (the least in manner of all others) waiteth the Asse a shrewd turne.
b. a. 1300. Cursor M., 4330. Sco waited him wit a werr turn.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 4186. Whan þys Iudas … weytede Ihesu with tresun.
c. 1320. Sir Tristr., 2175. Meriadok wiþ ille Waited hem ful neiȝe Of her dede.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 7122. For þou art no knyght of armes, Þe more þey wayte þis lond wyþ harmes.
1352. Minot, Poems, i. 64. Ay er þai boune To wait Ingland with sorow and schame.
a. 1400. Sir Perc., 99. Was noȝte the rede knyghte so rathe For to wayte hym with skathe.
c. 1430. Syr Tryam., 101. Yf ye be so hardy To wayte me wyth velanye.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, VIII. 900. We sall be bundyn yow to,… nocht efftyr to wait yow with na ill.
c. 1475. Rauf Coilȝear, 913. ‘Sa thriue I,’ said the Sarazine, ‘… Quha waitis the Cristin with cair, my cusingis ar thay.’
15[?]. Murning Maiden, 81, in Maitl. Fol. MS. (S.T.S.), I. And heir to ȝow my treuth I plycht That I sall nowder day nor nycht No wyld beist wait with wrang.
1581. Satir. Poems Reform., xliii. 83. Did sho not wait him with sic foule inuy.
2. Comb. wait-scathe (as a nickname or quasi-proper name), a perpetrator of mischief.
1481. Caxton, Reynard, xxviii. (Arb.), 70. Ther is prentout, wayte scathe, and other of my frendis and alyes.
a. 1500. Henryson, Fox & Wolf, 54. Freir Wolf Waitskaith.
