■ verb
1》 stay where one is or delay action until a particular time or occurrence.
↘be delayed or deferred.
↘ informal defer (a meal) until a person's arrival.
↘[usu. as noun ~ing ] park a vehicle for a short time at the side of a road.
2》 ( ~ on/upon ) act as an attendant to.
↘ archaic pay a respectful visit to.
3》 act as a ~er or ~ress.
■ noun
1》 a period of ~ing.
2》 ( ~s ) archaic street singers of Christmas carols.
↘ historical official bands of musicians maintained by a city or town.
Phrases
in ~ watching for an enemy or potential victim and preparing to attack them.
Origin
ME: from Old North. Fr. ~ier , of Gmc origin; related to wake 1 .