[f. WAKE v. + -ING2.]
1. That remains awake; that keeps watch; fig. that continues on the alert, vigilant, watchful.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 39. Drihten bi-hat þon wakiende ane crune.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 649. Bes wakond and warly.
a. 1475. Ashby, Dicta Philos., 715. In your counsail le quick and ay wakyng.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., III. 154. The Mastie that keepeth the house … must … be … very waking.
1601. in Foley, Rec. Eng. Prov. S. J. (1880), VI. 735. He was thought negligent, and therefore they sent a wakinger spirit.
1620. T. May, Heir, II. (1622), C 3. Were there a thousand waking Dragons set To keepe that golden fruit.
1690. Locke, Hum. Und., II. i. § 11. The Soul in a waking Man is never without thought, because it is the condition of being awake.
1826. Disraeli, Viv. Grey, V. xv. The screech of the waking owl.
2. That ceases to sleep, that becomes awake.
1794. Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, vii. The breeze that … swells the melody of waking birds.
3. ‘Rousing from sleep; exciting into motion or action.’
1828–32. Webster; and in later Dicts.
4. transf. Belonging to, characteristic of, one who wakes or is awake.
1567. Turberv., Epit., etc., 66 b. And if in dawning chaunce some drouping sleepe to light Upon the carefull Corse that thus hath spent the waking night.
1624. Donne, Devot. Med., xv. (ed. 2), 350. Hee may bee ashamed of his waking dreames.
1634. Milton, Comus, 263. Such sober certainty of waking bliss I never heard till now.
1697. Dryden, Æneis, X. 908. Thus haunting Ghosts appear to waking Sight.
1762–71. H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint. (1786), V. 261. Realizing to his eyes the scenes of many a waking vision.
1833. L. Ritchie, Wand. by Loire, 198. Our waking existence is made up almost entirely or anticipations and regrets.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, xxxix. Captain Cuttle could hardly believe it … though he saw it done with his waking eyes.
a. 1859. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xxiii. V. 94. The subject … was never, during two waking hours together, out of his thoughts.
Hence Wakingly adv.
1388. Wyclif, Ecclus. xiii. 17. And thou schalt wake. [Gloss] And in this thou schalt haue thee wakingli and diligently.
c. 1482. Monk of Evesham (Arb.), 54. Hys father had apperyd .iij. nyghtis to gedyr to hys moeder wakyngly as sche was yn her prayers at home yn her chambyr.
1552. Huloet, Wakyngly, uigilanter.
