~ 1
■ noun
1》 an edge or border.
↘ Brit. a grass edging by the side of a road or path.
↘ Architecture an edge of tiles projecting over a gable.
2》 an extreme limit beyond which something specified will happen: I was on the ~ of tears.
■ verb ( ~ on ) be very close or similar to: his attitude ~s on racist.
Origin
ME: via OFr. from L. virga 'rod'.
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~ 2
■ noun a wand or rod carried before a bishop or dean as an emblem of office.
Origin
ME: from L. virga 'rod'.
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~ 3
■ verb incline in a certain direction or towards a particular state.
Origin
C17 (in the sense 'descend to the horizon'): from L. ~re 'to bend, incline'.