I. ˈwāt, usu -ād.+V verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English waiten, from Old North French waitier to watch, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German wahta watch, guard, wahhēn, wahhōn to watch, be awake — more at wake
transitive verb
1.
a. : to stay in place or remain inactive in expectation of : stay for : await
waited his turn to play
horses … waiting their riders — L.C.Douglas
waited their coming with dignity — Elizabeth Middleton
b.
(1) : to hold back in expectation of : delay in hope of : defer until
wait a favorable opportunity
waited a better day — Century Magazine
waited her chance — Amelia Walden
(2) : to delay in hope of a favorable change in or cessation of
wait out the stock market
wait out a storm
2. archaic : to accompany with ceremony or respect : attend on : escort
bids him wait her to her sacred dome — Alexander Pope
3. archaic : to be ready or available for
tea and coffee wait your pleasure in the drawing room — R.S.Surtees
4. : to delay serving (a meal) : put off : hold , keep
waited dinner for the latecomers to arrive
5. : to serve the eaters sitting at
earned a few dollars waiting table — Ralph Ellison
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to remain stationary in readiness or expectation
sat and waited for the man in charge
waiting in line for hours
kept us waiting in the rain
b. obsolete : to remain hopeful and trusting
truly my soul waiteth upon God — Ps 62:1 (Authorized Version)
c.
(1) : to linger expectantly at or near a place : hang around
waiting around hoping to see a celebrity
(2) of a hawk : to circle above the hunter till the game is sprung
d. : to pause or halt for another to catch up
waited up for me … and we went along side by side — Helen Eustis
e. South & Midland : to stay expectantly for another to speak or act
come on, we're waiting on you
f. : to delay going to bed
waited up to see a late show on television
2.
a. : to look forward expectantly
waiting to see his rival lose
waiting for the shell to explode
b. : to hold back expectantly : delay until the proper condition has come about
waiting for his chance to strike
a land where wealth waited on a lot of hard work — J.H.Plumb
waited till the war's end to get married
c. : to hold back in a competition (as a race) with the expectation of closing strong to win in the final stage
waited off, well behind the leaders, until the last lap
3.
a. archaic
(1) : to be in readiness to serve or execute orders
they also serve who only stand and wait — John Milton
(2) : to act as an attendant
maids of honor to wait upon the queen — American Guide Series: Maryland
(3) South & Midland : to attend a bride or groom at a wedding ceremony
b. : to supply the wants of another : serve
waited on her children hand and foot
c. : to serve at meals : be a waiter
specialized either in waiting or in cookery — G.V.Selsey
— usually used in the phrases wait at table or wait on table
as a student he waited at table for two years
waits on tables when the restaurant is crowded
d. : to serve a customer or client (as in a shop)
looked around for a salesgirl to wait on her
e. : to serve as escort
waited upon the visiting dignitaries to their lodgings
4. : to make a formal call
a delegation waited on the commissioners — Meridel LeSueur
5.
a. : to be ready and available
a letter waiting for you on the table
slippers waited by the bed — Mary Cable
ideas … waiting for discovery — A.N.Whitehead
b. : to remain temporarily neglected
your letter has waited longer than they often do — O.W.Holmes †1935
c. : to remain unrealized for a time
the establishment of large purses waited until the seventies — American Guide Series: New York
6. Britain : park 1
Synonyms: see stay
•
- in waiting
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English waite watchman, watchman who sounds watch, public musician, watch, wait, from Old North French, watchman, watch, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German wahta watch, guard
1.
a. : one of a band of public musicians in England employed usually by a city to play for processions or at official or public entertainments
the wait who played the bagpipes — London Calling
b.
(1) : one of a group of street or rustic serenaders who play or sing at night for small gratuities especially around the Christmas season
(2) : a piece of music provided by these musicians
c. : shawm ; especially : one played by the town musicians of England
2.
a. : a position from which a person in concealment can watch usually with intent to attack or surprise : ambush — used chiefly in the expression lie in wait
thieves lying in wait around the bend of the road
b. : a condition or attitude of watchfulness and expectancy
anchored in wait for early morning fishing — Fred Zimmer
3.
a. : an act of waiting
endless waits that make up a soldier's life — Dixon Wecter
b. : a period of waiting : delay , interval
a long wait in line
a week's wait before delivery
specifically : a break or pause (as between the acts) in a theatrical performance : intermission
run off the program without waits