ˈwāv transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English weiven, from Old North French weyver, from waif lost, unclaimed — more at waif
1. : to declare (as a woman failing to defend an accusation) outside the benefit and protection of feudal law
2.
a. archaic : to give up (as a position, custom, or intention) : forsake
waived his intention of landing on that island, and steered for Ternate — James Mill
b. obsolete : to withdraw (as a motion) formally
3. : to throw away (stolen goods) : abandon — compare waif I 1b
4. archaic : to shunt aside (as a danger or duty) : evade , decline
the most effectual mode of … waiving all discussions — Sir Walter Scott
'tis still the wiser way to waive contention with superior sway — Alexander Pope
5. obsolete : to neglect to take advantage of : disregard
6.
a. : to relinquish voluntarily (as a legal right)
waive a jury trial
waive fulfillment of certain onerous provisions of a contract
b. : to refrain from pressing or enforcing (as a claim or rule) : dispense with : forgo
waive a portion of the tax due
waives his opposition to the bill
waive the customary formalities
waived the club rules to admit him
7. : to put off from immediate consideration : defer , postpone
waiving this theory for the present, let us resume the inquiry — John Marshall
8. : to dismiss (as a person or thought) with or as if with a wave of the hand
evils … are not magically waived out of existence — John Dewey
waive the whole business aside — O.S.J.Gogarty
said “no” and waived them off — E.L.Masters
Synonyms: see relinquish