wait

wait
{{11}}wait (n.) early 13c., "a watcher, onlooker," from O.N.Fr. wait, O.Fr. gaite, from gaitier (see WAIT (Cf. wait) (v.)). From late 14c. as "an ambush, a trap" (as in lie in wait).
{{12}}wait (v.) c.1200, "to watch with hostile intent, lie in wait for," from O.N.Fr. waitier "to watch" (O.Fr. gaitier, Mod.Fr. guetter), from Frankish *wahton (Cf. Du. wacht "a watching," O.H.G. wahten, Ger. wachten "to watch, to guard;" O.H.G. wahhon "to watch, be awake," O.E. wacian "to be awake;" see WAKE (Cf. wake) (v.)). General sense of "remain in some place" is from late 14c.; that of "to see to it that something occurs" is late 14c. Meaning "to stand by in attendance on" is late 14c.; specific sense of "serve as an attendant at a table" is from 1560s.
To wait (something) out "endure a period of waiting" is recorded from 1909, originally American English, in reference to baseball batters trying to draw a base on balls. Waiting game is recorded from 1890. Waiting room is attested from 1680s. Waiting list is recorded from 1897; the verb wait-list "to put (someone) on a waiting list" is recorded from 1960.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • wait — [wāt] vi. [ME waiten < NormFr waitier < Frank * wahten, to guard, akin to OHG wahta, a guard, watch: for IE base see WAKE1] 1. to stay in a place or remain in readiness or in anticipation (until something expected happens or for someone to… …   English World dictionary

  • Wait — Wait, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Waited}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Waiting}.] [OE. waiten, OF. waitier, gaitier, to watch, attend, F. guetter to watch, to wait for, fr. OHG. wahta a guard, watch, G. wacht, from OHG. wahh[=e]n to watch, be awake. [root]134. See …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Wait — or WAIT may refer to: * The act of waiting, see waiting (time) * wait (command), a computer shell command * wait (operating system), an operating system system call * Wait (musician), British town pipers * Wait (song), a song by The Beatles *… …   Wikipedia

  • wait in — ˌwait ˈin [intransitive] [present tense I/you/we/they wait in he/she/it waits in present participle waiting in past tense …   Useful english dictionary

  • WAIT — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Wait, attendre en anglais, abrégé en W8, peut être retrouver dans : Wait a Minute  , divers albums musicaux, Wait for Sleep , une chanson de l… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Wait — Wait, v. t. 1. To stay for; to rest or remain stationary in expectation of; to await; as, to wait orders. [1913 Webster] Awed with these words, in camps they still abide, And wait with longing looks their promised guide. Dryden. [1913 Webster] 2 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Wait — Wait, n. [OF. waite, guaite, gaite, F. guet watch, watching, guard, from OHG. wahta. See {Wait}, v. i.] [1913 Webster] 1. The act of waiting; a delay; a halt. [1913 Webster] There is a wait of three hours at the border Mexican town of El Paso. S …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Wait — (англ. ждать, подожди) может означать: В искусстве Wait  одна из песен группы «Битлз» с альбома «Rubber Soul»; Wait  песня и одноимённый сингл группы «Wang Chung». Wait песня и одноимённый сингл группы «White Lion» из альбома… …   Википедия

  • wait — ► VERB 1) stay where one is or delay action until a particular time or event. 2) be delayed or deferred. 3) (wait on/upon) act as an attendant to. 4) act as a waiter or waitress. ► NOUN 1) a period of waiting. 2) …   English terms dictionary

  • wait up — wait for me, wait until I catch up    Danny, wait up. I want to talk to you …   English idioms

  • wait on — (someone) to serve someone. She waited on customers all day at the department store. He sits there in front of the TV and expects me to wait on him! Related vocabulary: wait on someone hand and foot …   New idioms dictionary

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