[wage] n [ME, pledge, wage, fr. ONF, of Gmc origin; akin to Goth wadi pledge--more at wed] (14c) 1 a: a payment usu. of money for labor or services usu. according to contract and on an hourly, daily, or piecework basis--often used in pl. b pl: the share of the national product attributable to labor as a factor in production
2: recompense, reward--usu. used in pl. but sing. or pl. in constr. "the ~s of sin is death --Rom 6:23 (RSV)" -- wage.less adj
[2]wage vb waged ; wag.ing [ME, to pledge, give as security, fr. ONF wagier, fr. wage] vt (15c): to engage in or carry on "~ war" "~ a campaign" ~ vi: to be in process of occurring "the riot waged for several hours --Amer. Guide Series: Md."