Waive v.¹

Forms: 3–4 weive, 4–6 weyve, (5 weyfe, 6 pa. pple. waifed, weft), 4–7 wayve, (4 wayvye), 5–9 wave, 5– waive. [ME. weyve-n, a. AF. weyve-r (whence Law-Latin waiviare, waviare), dial. var. of OF. gaiver, guesver (early mod. F. in Cotgr. gayver, guesver, guever) to allow to become a ‘waif,’ to abandon, f. AF. weyf (fem. weyve), OF. gaif (fem. gaive, gueive, etc.) adj. and sb.: see WAIF sb.¹

  Johnson, 1755, spells this verb as wave, and places it as a sense of WAVE v.¹, though (following Skinner) he assigns to it a separate derivation from ‘Fr. guesver.’]

  1.  trans. Law. To deprive (a person) of the benefit and protection of the law as a punishment; to outlaw. Chiefly in passive.

  In AF. weyver had the sense ‘to abandon, disclaim ownership of (a serf)’: see Britton, I. xxxii. § 8.

  † a.  gen. = OUTLAW v. Obs.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 10823. He let al so uor is loue deliueri of prison Sir hubert de boru & oþere þat in prison were ido & hom þat iweiued were is pes he ȝef al so.

  b.  In restricted application: To outlaw (a woman). ? Obs.

  [The expression ‘to be outlawed’ (AF. estre utlagé) was held to be in strictness not applicable to a woman, for the reason given in the following quot.:

c. 1290.  Britton, I. xiii. § 3. Femme neqedent ne peut estre utlagé proprement, pur ceo qe ele ne est mie ordeyné a dizeyne, ne a la ley, ines weyvé, qe vaut utlagerie.]

1457.  Cov. Leet Bk., 303. Þat no shirrif of þis Cite frohensfurth take of eny person … beyng outlawed or weyued, for fyne to be eased for a hole ȝer but xl d.

1543.  trans. Act 7 Hen. IV., c. 13. Where as many of the kinges liege people be outlawed, and many wayued by erronyous processe.

1625.  Sir H. Finch, Law (1636), 242. When a woman is outlawed, shee is said to be waued and not outlawed, because she is neuer sworne to the Law.

1741.  T. Robinson, Gavelkind, I. vi. 116. The Process continued till the Uncles were outlawed, and the Niece waived.

1818.  Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), V. 185. Persons outlawed, or waived in personal actions, may alien by fine.

  2.  Law. To abandon (stolen goods). Obs. exc. Hist.

1531.  trans. St. German’s Dial. Doctor & Stud., II. iii. 8 b. Goodes stolen, and seased for the kynge or wayued be forfeite onelesse appele or enditement be sued.

1579.  Expos. Terms Law, 186 b. The queenes officer or the Reeue or Bailife to the Lord of the manour … may seyse the goodes so wayued to their lordes vse. Ibid., 187. If a man bee pursued … as a felon, and hee flyeth, and leaueth his owne goodes &c. these shalbe taken as goods wayued, & forfait as if they had bin stolne.

1589.  Cooper, Admon., 51. Vpon notice giuen to the said B. that such like cloth was wayued within his Manor of Fulham, and left in a ditch there, and no owner knowen, hee … appoynted the same to be watched.

1639.  Nuisance to Private Houses, 16. If any goods be wayued in any manner, and if any man take them, that then it shall bee lawfull for mee to destraine.

1765.  Blackstone, Comm., I. viii. 286. Waifs, bona waviata, are goods stolen, and waived or thrown away by the thief in his flight, for fear of being apprehended.

  † 3.  gen. To abandon, leave, desert, forsake (a person, place, thing). Obs.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. Wace, 10185. Al þe contre gan þey weyue & fledde a-wey vn to Murreyue.

1390.  Gower, Conf., I. 315. The lond was thanne sone weyved.

a. 1400–50.  Wars Alex., 297. Þen will he wed anoþire wife, & wayfe me for euer. Ibid., 2469. Bot bowis first fra ȝour bargis & blythly þaim wayfe [MS. Dublin woydez].

c. 1450.  St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 5793. Þe hors wayuand sone, he left, And lokyd how he myght fle eft.

  † b.  To cast aside, relinquish, forsake (the truth, one’s faith or god, a state or condition, etc.).

1303.  R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 6597. Forsake Iew at alle þy myȝt, But ȝyf þou hope þat he wul weyue Hys lawe, and crystendom receyue.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Pars. Prol., 33. For Paul that writeth vn-to Thymothee Repreueth hem that weyueth soothfastnesse.

1390.  Gower, Conf., I. 180. So that baptesme thei receiven And alle here false goddes weyven.

c. 1394.  P. Pl. Crede, 685. Falshed of freres haþ … maid hem to … wayuen þe trewþe.

a. 1657.  R. Loveday, Lett. (1663), 235. They wav’d the Kings party, and adher’d to this.

  † c.  To abandon, lay aside, forsake (a habit, custom, sin, etc.). Obs.

1340.  Ayenb., 88. And of hire herte alle zenne lo waynye [read wayuye].

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Boeth., I. met. vii. (1868), 29. Weyue þou ioie, drif fro þe drede.

c. 1394.  P. Pl. Crede, 530. Wycliff … grayþliche hem warned To wayuen her wikednesse.

c. 1412.  Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 1442. Hem hoghte to be mirours of sadnesse, And wayue iolitee and wantonnesse. Ibid., 3385. For to hem longith it, for goddes sake, To wayue cruelte and tyrannye.

1658.  Sir T. Browne, Hydriot., i. 8. The Ægyptians were afraid of fire … And from such Ægyptian scruples imbibed by Pythagoras, it may be conjectured that Numa and the Pythagoricall Sect first waved the fiery solution.

  † d.  To abandon, give up (a task); to resign (an office). Also with inf. as obj. Obs.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Melib., ¶ 2256. I seye that though … ye weyue to perfourne thilke same emprise by Iuste cause men sholde nat seyn therfore that ye were a lier ne forsworn. Ibid., ¶ 2406. Lest that the charge oppresse thee so soore that thee bihoueth to weyue thyng that thou hast bigonne.

1390.  Gower, Conf., I. 258. This innocent, which was deceived, His Papacie anon hath weyved, Renounced and resigned eke. Ibid., I. 363. Fro ferst that holi cherche hath weyved To preche, and hath the swerd received.

a. 1661.  Fuller, Worthies, Bucks (1662), 135. Walter Haddon was … chosen Vice-Chancellour of Cambridge 1550. Soon after he was made President of Magdalen-Colledge in Oxford, which place he waved in the reign of Queen Mary.

  † e.  To abandon or withdraw formally (legal proceedings, a motion); also, to defeat (a proposal) on a vote. Obs.

1647.  Clarendon, Hist. Reb., III. § 104. Though there might be some reason for their [the bishops’] absence when the trial was, according to law, before and by his peers only, yet when that judgment was waived, and a bill of attainder brought up against him, their votes in that bill were as … essential as of any other of the lords.

1658–9.  Burton’s Diary (1828), IV. 14. I was before for bounding, but that was not relished. It is not for our honour to recede to what we have waved.

a. 1662.  Heylyn, Laud, II. (1671), 295. Others conceived, that they had very well performed their duty … by waving all Proceedings against them.

1692–3.  Wood, Life, 24 Jan. (O.H.S.), III. 414. It was then discussed or proposed that Dr. William Lloyd’s book … be burnt also: but waved only by eleven votes.

1706.  Hearne, Collect., 24 March (O.H.S.), I. 208. The Prolocutor of y^e Lower House of Convocation … had a great mind to have propos’d … y^t publick thanks should be return’d to Mr. Wall … but this seeming a little unpresidented, ’twas wav’d.

1736.  Gentl. Mag., VI. 441/2. For this Reason, he hoped, the Hon. Gentleman would … wave the Motion he had made.

  f.  To abandon, relinquish, give up (an intention). Now rare or Obs.

c. 1450.  Pol. Poems (Rolls), II. 228. Be no more blynde, but weynyth [read weyuyth] youre wille.

1700.  in Pepys’ Diary (1875), VI. 231. He designed to have mounted on horseback at some distance from the town,… but seeing the crowd and dust he had to encounter with, very prudently waved it.

1787.  Mirror, 10. He once entertained a desire of taking a tour to Scythia; but waved it.

1817.  Jas. Mill, Brit. India, I. I. i. 7. He waved his intention of landing on that island, and steered for Ternate.

  † 4.  intr. To waive from = 3 b. Obs.

1303.  R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 235. Þouȝe he to-day fro hys god weyue, To-morwe hys god wyl hym receyue.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Merch. T., 239. But þat ye been so ful of sapience That yow ne liketh for youre heighe prudence To weyuen fro the word of Salomon. Ibid. (c. 1386), Squire’s T., Prol. 6. From a sooth euere wol they [sc. women] weyue.

  5.  trans. a. Law. To relinquish (a right, claim, or contention) either by express declaration or by doing some intentional act which by law is equivalent to this; to decline to avail oneself of (an advantage); to refuse to accept (some provision made in one’s favor).

  AF. weyver with this sense is very frequent in law-books from Britton (c. 1290) onwards.

  To waive the tort, said in common-law pleading of a plaintiff who, having the choice of framing his action in contract or tort, elected to sue in contract.

c. 1469.  Stonor Papers (Camden), I. 103. Þe title of Jobury is by his owne Counsell wayued and taken for nought.

c. 1570.  Pride & Lowl. (1841), 70. But that ech partie would have his reason, to prove their issue,… And weyven would no point for them might fal.

1666.  H. Jackson, in Extr. St. P. rel. Friends, III. (1912), 248. They … altogether waved that for which at first they pretended to commit mee.

1685.  Keble, Rep., I. 225. Nota, per Curiam after special Issue joyned, the parties cannot waive it, and plead general Issue without motion in Court.

1776.  G. Wilson, Coke’s Rep., III. II. 26. If lands be given to husband and wife in tail, or in fee, and the husband dies, there the wife cannot devest the freehold out of her by any verbal waver…. As if before any entry made by her, she saith that she utterly waves and disagrees to the said estate,… yet the freehold remains in her.

1818.  Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), I. 177. In cases of this kind the wife cannot waive the provision thereby made for her, and claim dower at common law.

1826.  Bell, Comm. Laws Scot. (ed. 5), I. 422. The parties may, by anticipation, waive the rules of negociation [of bills]. Ibid., II. 96. Lien may be waived by agreement before the possession begins.

1839.  J. L. Adolphus, The Circuiteers, in Law Quart. Rev. (1885), I. 232.

1875.  K. E. Digby, Real Prop., x. § 1. (1876), 381. If however the lessor, after knowledge of the happening of the event, continues in any way to treat the lessee as his tenant,… he is said to waive the forfeiture, and can no longer take advantage of it.

  b.  To refrain from insisting upon, give up (a privilege, right, claim, etc.); to forbear to claim or demand.

1625.  Donne, 80 Serm. (1640), iii. 22. He takes the name of the Son of a woman, and waives the glorious name of the Son of God.

1633.  T. Gerard, Descr. Somerset (1900), 185. A thing even usuall in those times for a man to wave his own armes and take his mothers.

1660.  R. Coke, Power & Subj., 243. If the Parliament … did endue the Queen with such plentifull power, as to make her supreme Governor (the title of Head was waved) in all causes.

1708.  J. Chamberlayne, St. Gt. Brit., I. II. xv. 143. The Jurisdiction of this Lord Chief Justice is very great … the Lords sometimes waving their own Power, have directed him to send his Warrant to seize Persons suspected of Capital Crimes.

1750.  Johnson, Rambler, No. 24, ¶ 13. Congreve waved his title to dramatic reputation and desired to be considered only as a gentleman.

1787.  Cowper, Bill Mortality, 12. This annual tribute Death requires, And never waves his claim.

1805.  Nelson, in Nicolas, Disp. (1846), VII. 108. Perhaps Lieutenant Hewson would waive his rank to be in a Flag Ship.

1820.  W. Irving, Sketch Bk., I. 128. He lays aside his distance and reserve, and is glad to wave the distinctions of rank.

1836.  Marryat, Midsh. Easy, xviii. But you just now asserted that you would waive your rank.

1855.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xvi. III. 679. Marlborough consented to waive part of his rights, and to allow precedence to the Duke on the alternate days.

1886.  G. Allen, Darwin, vi. 81. The younger [naturalist] … waived his own claim … in favour of the elder.

1912.  Throne, 7 Aug., 240/1. The long outstanding appeal to the Union Government to waive a portion of the 60 per cent. tax was likely to be successful.

  c.  To forbear persistence in (an action or course of action); to refrain from pressing (an objection, a scruple, an argument).

1681.  Pennsylv. Arch., I. 38. And of yo^r regard to yo^r owne and future good of yo^r posterity makes mee to wave all objections of y^e nature.

1706.  Col. Rec. Pennsylv., II. 284. He was willing to wave all resentm^ts.

1756.  Burke, Vind. Nat. Soc., 76. I submit to the Condition, and though I have a notorious Advantage before me, I wave the Pursuit.

1774.  J. Walker, Gen. Idea Pronounc. Dict., 2. If, therefore, every argument for the improvement of language were waved, but what arises from the superior harmony and beauty of an uniform and well-polished tongue, we might with reason conclude, that [etc.].

1818.  Scott, Br. Lamm., xxix. A contract must be supposed to be given up, when the party waves insisting upon it.

1842.  Bischoff, Woollen Manuf., II. 29. We trust that the example of so many of those engaged in the same trade, will induce the manufacturers of Leeds and Norwich to wave their opposition to this measure.

1868.  J. H. Blunt. Ref. Ch. Eng., I. 54. Yet the king is willing to waive his objection.

1881.  Besant & Rice, Chapl. Fleet, I. vi. As he had eaten nothing for two days, he was induced to waive this scruple, and presently made a hearty meal.

  d.  To dispense with (formality, ceremony, etiquette).

1781.  Cowper, Lett., 7 July. Lady Austen, waving all forms, has paid us the first visit.

1810.  S. Green, Reformist, I. 20. You, it is true, are my servant; but wave all ceremony, all diffidence.

1821.  Lamb, Elia, I. Grace bef. Meat. The supplementary or tea-grace was waived altogether.

1833.  Lytton, Godolphin, I. xxii. 266. ‘A few persons come to me to-morrow evening,’ said she; ‘do waive ceremony, and join us.’

1851.  Dixon, W. Penn, xxviii. (1872), 259. Penn was with the Quakers, who agreed to waive the ceremony of the hat.

  † e.  To forgo, deny to oneself (some advantage). Obs.

1669.  Boyle, Contn. New Exp., I. xxxviii. (1682), 129. To make the Trial more accurate, I wav’d the use of other Bellows.

a. 1680.  Butler, Rem. (1759), I. 110. Therefore you wisely scorn your Stile to humble, Or for the Sense’s Sake to wave the Rumble.

1772.  Mackenzie, Man World, II. vi. (1823), 473. He had prevailed on himself to waive that pleasure.

1785.  Epitaph to Cath. Clive, in Pall Mall Gaz., 12 Oct. (1887), 11/2. Content with Fame, ev’n affluence she wav’d.

  f.  refl. To put aside one’s own interests. rare^–1.

1894.  Blackmore, Perlycross, xiii. She could not claim the pleasure of having waived herself to please him.

  † 6.  To shun, avoid; to elude, escape; to dodge (a blow). Obs.

1303.  R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 2591. Okerers men oght to weyue, Ȝeue hem noght, ne of hem receyue.

1390.  Gower, Conf., I. 58. So that he hath the wordes weyved And thurgh his Ere is noght deceived.

1446.  Lydg., Two Nightingale Poems, i. 306. The fende … Goth fast a-boute … Leying hys lynes and … Wsynge his hokes, on theym you to receyue, The which thus lyghtly ye may eschewe & weyfe.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., III. iv. 36. Ne of thy late life memory is left, Ne can thy irreuocable destiny be weft.

a. 1656.  Ussher, Ann. (1658), 453. In the fight Jonathan reached forth his arme to strick Bacchides, but he warily waved the blow.

  b.  To decline (combat). ? Obs.

1664.  Butler, Hud., II. ii. 578. Both thought it was their wisest course To wave the Fight, and mount to Horse.

1697.  Dryden, Æneis, XII. 95. Refuse me not this one, this only Pray’r, To wave the Combat, and pursue the War.

1718.  Pope, Iliad, XXIII. 689. Not but (my Friend) ’tis still the wiser way To wave Contention with superior Sway.

  c.  To evade (doing something). † Also with inf. as obj.

c. 1440.  Pallad. on Husb., IV. 866. Folis with hond to touche a corser weyueth.

1646.  E. Winslow, Hypocr. Unmasked, 101. Furthermore in the Government of Plimouth, to our great griefe, not onely the Pastor of a Congregation waveth the administration of baptisme to Infants, but divers of his Congregation are fallen with him.

1657.  J. Sergeant, Schism Dispatch’t, 548. They … confess themselves to seek in those points, as wee have seen lately, and as M^r Fuller tacitly grants by waving to patronize it.

1665.  Boyle, Occas. Refl., Introd. Pref. a b. That I may have the greater Opportunity to hear other mens Opinions … and the less Temptation to wave the complying with those that shall seem Reasonable.

1768.  Boswell, Corsica, ii. (ed. 2), 82. The judge could wave the pursuit of justice by saying, ‘Non procedatur.’

1793.  Mme. D’Arblay, Lett., 22 Feb. I have waived and waived acceptance almost from the moment of Madame de Staēl’s arrival.

1823.  Scott, Peveril, ix. He calmly waved receiving the paper which Sir Jasper offered to him.

1858.  Hawthorne, Fr. & It. Note-bks. (1871), I. 334. There appears to be no concealment on the part of the officers in thus waiving the exercise of their duty.

  d.  To put aside, avoid (a subject, a discussion).

1746.  Hervey, Medit. (1818), 71. [My mind] has studiously waved the fearful subject, and seems unwilling to pursue it even now.

1748.  Richardson, Clarissa (1811), II. xxx. 186. To my surprise, he waved everything that would have led to the subject.

1778.  Miss Burney, Evelina, I. xxvi. 144. I would fain have waved the subject.

1816.  Scott, Old Mort., xxxi. Which … they considered as the most effectual mode of solving all difficulties and waiving all discussions.

1847.  Disraeli, Tancred, II. ii. Tancred … waived the subject.

  † 7.  To refuse, reject (something offered). Also with clause as obj. Obs.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Melib., ¶ 2398. Thou shalt chese the beste and weyue all othere thynges.

1390.  Gower, Conf., I. 276. [Constantine proclaimed] Up peine of deth that noman weyve That he baptesme ne receive.

14[?].  Hoccleve, Minor Poems, xxi. 105. Many a man this day, but they gold wey, of men not wole it take ne receyve, and yf it lake his peis, they woll it weive.

c. 1440.  Capgrave, St. Kath., 510. If it [sc. a proposed statue] myght kepe my flesh in swiche degree It shulde not rote, I wolde it neuere weyue.

  b.  To put aside, avoid acceptance of (an offer, something offered); to decline (an honor), deprecate (praise). ? Obs.

1642.  Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., II. xviii. 118. The neighbour gentry court him for his acquaintance, which he either modestly waveth, or thankfully accepteth.

c. 1645.  Howell, Lett. (1655), I. II. iv. 73. They offer’d the Crown to the Duke of Saxony, and he waving it, they sent Ambassadors to the Palsgrave.

1734.  trans. Rollin’s Anc. Hist., III. VII. 449. He for some time desired leave to wave the honour they offered him.

1753.  Richardson, Grandison, III. xii. (1781), 90. The Doctor very modestly received the compliment, and, to wave our praises, gave us [etc.].

  † 8.  To treat with neglect, ignore, disregard, overlook; to let pass (an opportunity). Obs.

c. 1400.  Laud Troy Bk., 17320. The kyng answered … For ȝe wot wele … That I haue done ȝoure consayl here, In al my lyff I wayved hit neuere.

1586.  in Motley, Netherl. (1860), II. i. 43. [Lord Burgh] in a most vehement passion, waived the countermand [and his insubordination was very generally imitated].

1646.  M. Hopkins, Lett., in Gaule, Cases Consc., To Rdr. I would certainely know afore whether your Town … [is] willing to give … us good welcome…, else I shall wave your Shire.

1652.  Needham, trans. Selden’s Mare Cl., 169. It is no hard matter in like manner to wave the Autoritie of those of later time, that oppose a Dominion.

1657.  Wood, Life (O. H. S.), I. 228. This perswasion of that unfortunate lord occasion’d his majesty to wave the advice of Lilly and others, &c.

1662.  Marvell, Corr., Wks. (Grosart), II. 82. But there are strange reasons and junctures at Court in all businesses, which must be catched or waived.

1671.  E. Chamberlayne, Pres. St. Eng., II. 77. The Courts of the Archbishop of Canterbury, where any Ecclesiastical Sutes between any persons may (waving all inferior Courts) be decided.

1675.  trans. Machiavelli’s Prince, xix. (1883), 129. The Soldan … being wholly in the power of the soldiers, it is convenient that he also waive the people and insinuate with the army.

a. 1677.  Barrow, Serm., Wks. 1686, III. xxiii. 264. God,… respecteth not onely the good of this or that person,… but often (in some degree waving that, or taking care for it in a less remarkable way) hath a provident regard to the more extensive good of a whole people.

1713.  C’tess Winchilsea, Misc. Poems, 263. Receive it then, t’expel these mortal Cares, Nor wave a Med’cine, which thy God prepares.

  b.  To put aside, refuse to defer to (another’s scruples). rare.

1833.  Ht. Martineau, Fr. Wines & Pol., iv. 53. Being under promise, however, to purchase such and such quantities of wine, he must waive their polite scruples.

  9.  To refrain from applying or enforcing (a rule, law), to make an exception to.

a. 1665.  J. Goodwin, Filled w. the Spirit, ii. (1670), 32. And (doubtless) it was the very intention, of the Law-makers themselves, that their Law, calculated for the regulating ordinary cases only, in such cases as these (I mean extraordinaries) should be waved.

1669.  Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., VI. iii. 127. So with reason wave the Rule, as occasion requireth.

1849.  Miss Mulock, Ogilvies, xix. But in the present case we will waive the aforesaid excellent rule.

  10.  To abstain from entering upon (an action, inquiry, a discussion, subject of consideration). Often with some notion of reserving for a future opportunity: To allow to stand over, put aside for the present, defer.

  In the 17th c. very often with vbl. sb. as obj.

1650.  Bulwer, Anthropomet., xxiii. (1653), 452. Upon which a Quære might be raised…. But this, as being not properly appertaining to our Designe, we shall wave it for the present.

1694.  F. Bragge, Disc. Parables, III. 100. I shall wave the enquiry how far religion is conducive to these things.

1696.  Whiston, Theory Earth, II. 154. Now verbal Descriptions … being of small advantage … I shall wave more words about it.

1712.  Addison, Spect., No. 267, ¶ 1. For this Reason I shall wave the Discussion of that Point.

a. 1716.  Blackall, Wks. (1723), I. 110. A Reason why he wav’d concerning himself to decide this Difference, might be, because the Man came to him … as to a Person invested with secular Power.

1759.  Dilworth, Pope, 76. For our part we shall wave entering into a disquisition about the English translation of the Iliad.

1774.  Mitford, Ess. Harmony Lang., 207. I shall wave all farther remarks.

1797.  Ht. Lee, Canterb. T., Poet’s T. (1799), I. 74. Let us wave further conversation.

1870.  Ruskin, Lect. Art, i. 22. I waive discussion of this to-day.

1873.  Browning, Red Cott. Nt.-cap, 1529. Well now, waive nonsense, you and I are boys No longer.

  † b.  To refrain from dealing with in statement or narrative; to omit, leave out. Obs.

1651.  Davenant, Gondibert, I. xxiii. In pity thus, her beauty’s just renown I wave for publique Peace.

1665.  Bunyan, Holy Citie (1669), 130. John tells us this Wall is an hundred forty four Cubits, (and waves the manner of the measure of Ezekiel).

1684.  J. Morrison, trans. Struys’ Voy., Pref. 1. A Person, whose sufferings (waving other discouraging circumstances) might have very well excused from observing.

1703.  Pope, Thebais, 19. But wave whate’er to Cadmus may belong, And fix, O Muse! the barrier of thy song At Oedipus.

1709.  Strype, Ann. Ref., I. xxxv. 354. Then followeth his Answer…. Which being very long I was in some suspense about inserting it, inclining to abreviate or wave it wholly.

1742.  Fielding, J. Andrews, I. ii. To wave therefore a circumstance, which is not greatly material.

  ¶ 11.  [Confused with WAVE v.] To put (a person or thing) aside, away, off with or as with a wave of the hand.

1832.  Ht. Martineau, Ella of Garv., vi. 80. You should have seen him waive us off with his cane.

1871.  Farrar, Witn. Hist., ii. 50. Both of whom [St. Peter and St. Paul], having given their clear testimony to facts … are now … contemptuously waived aside as idle dreamers. Ibid. (1877), Marlb. Serm., xxii. 210. And pure Faith … will here take you by the hand and waive off each baser temptation.

1897.  Bp. M. Creighton, in Life & Lett. (1904), II. vii. 258. I cannot waive away all the teaching of history.