Obs. Also 1 wacor, wæcer, 4–5 wakir(e, wakyr (5 Sc. walkyr), (5 wakare). [OE. wacor = WFris. wakker wakeful (also as adv. very), MDu., (M)LG. wacker (Du. wakker), OHG. wacchar, wahhar (MHG. wacher, wacker, mod.G. wacker valiant), ON. vakr wakeful, alert (Da. vakker, MSw. vakar watchful, Sw. vakker handsome):—OTeut. *wakro- f. *wak-: see WAKE v. Unsleeping, watchful, vigilant. Also fig.
c. 1000. Laws Cnut, I. xxvi. Þonne moton þa hyrdas beon swyðe wacore.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 13. Ðe ðridde [werke of brihtnesse] is þat man be waker and liht and snel and seli and erliche rise.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 164. Ant Seint Peter … bit us te beon wakere & bisie ine holi beoden.
a. 1272. Luue Ron, 150, in O. E. Misc., 97. Wyþ þeoues,… Þu most beo waker and snel.
c. 1381. Chaucer, Parl. Foules, 358. The wakyr goos, the cokkow most onkynde.
c. 1410. Lantern of Light, 25. Wel auȝt suche a man to be waker & wise þat haþ þe greet God Lord of Israel dwelling in hise soule.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 301. Thai war better, mare wakir, and hable to the weris … throu hardness of lyfing.
c. 1530. Prov., in Pol., Rel. & L. Poems (1903), 60. Waker howndes been profitable.
1560. trans. Æn. Sylvius’ Lucres & Eurialus, F viii b. The waker dragon dyd neuer keepe so well the golden fleece.
