/ ˈweɪdʒə(r); NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
( old-fashioned or formal ) an arrangement to risk money on the result of a particular event
SYN bet
■ verb ( old-fashioned or formal )
1.
wager (sth) (on sth) | wager sth/sb that ... to bet money
SYN bet :
[ v ]
She always wagered on an outsider.
[ vn ]
to wager £50 on a horse
[ vn that ]
I had wagered a great deal of money that I would beat him.
2.
[ v ( that )] used to say that you are so confident that sth is true or will happen that you would be willing to bet money on it
SYN bet :
I'll wager that she knows more about it than she's saying.
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (also in the sense solemn pledge ): from Anglo-Norman French wageure , from wager to wage.