I. ˈwethə(r) noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English weder, from Old English; akin to Old High German wetar weather, Old Norse vethr, Old Slavic vetrŭ wind, and perhaps to Sanskrit vāta wind — more at wind
1. : state of the atmosphere at a definite time and place with respect to heat or cold, wetness or dryness, calm or storm, clearness or cloudiness : meteorological condition
2.
a. : a particular kind of atmospheric state : one of the possible or known states of the atmosphere — used chiefly in plural
good hat for all weathers
in most weathers the sheep and cattle … could be driven to the capital — G.M.Trevelyan
b. : a condition or vicissitude of life or fortune
changes in our own country's moral weather — E.R.May
dark weather of fatality and grim resolution — Thomas Wolfe
3. : disagreeable atmospheric conditions: as
a. : rain , storm
we are expecting some weather
because of tide and brewing weather — P.A.Zahl
b. obsolete : a shower of rain or snow
c. obsolete : sky
d. : cold air and dampness
clothing to keep out the weather
4.
a. : the direction from which the wind is blowing : windward
b. : the windward side
5. : the angle that the sail of a windmill makes with its plane of revolution
6.
[ weather (III) ]
: weathering
7.
[ weather (II) ]
: the portion of siding or shingles that is exposed rather than hidden by overlap
a weather of four inches
•
- under the weather
II. adjective
: being toward the direction from which the wind blows : windward
weather beam
weather braces
— opposed to lee
III. verb
( weathered ; weathered ; weathering -th(ə)riŋ ; weathers )
Etymology: Middle English wederen, wetheren, from weder weather
transitive verb
1. : to expose to the open air : subject to the action of the elements
2.
a. : to sail or pass to the windward of
weather a cape
b. : to make headway against (a storm or hard blow)
3. : to bear up against and come safely through (a storm or a threatening or dangerous time)
now we have weathered another war — Lancet
4.
a. : to slope (as a roof) so as to shed water
b. : to set (the sails of a windmill) so they will be adjusted to the wind
5. : to tether (a hawk) unhooded in the open air
6. : to make unable to move because of bad weather — used usually with in
wouldn't want to get weathered in among those high passes — F.V.W.Mason
intransitive verb
1. : to undergo or endure the action of the elements : wear away, disintegrate, discolor, or deteriorate under atmospheric influences
shingles had weathered to a silvery gray
— often used with away
where the softer rock has weathered away into soil
2. : to last under use or exposure or passage of time
some paints weather better than others
3. dialect : storm
•
- weather along
- weather on