WAUGHT, WAUCHT, w[=a]ht, _n._ (_Scot._) a large draught. [Gael. _cuach_, a cup.]
WAUKRIFE. See WAKE.
WAUL, WAWL, wawl, _v.t._ to cry as a cat. [Imit.]
WAVE, w[=a]v, _n._ a ridge on the surface of water swaying or moving backwards and forwards: (_poet._) the sea: a state of vibration propagated through a system of particles: inequality of surface: a line or streak like a wave: an undulation: a rush of anything: a gesture.--_v.i._ to move like a wave: to play loosely: to be moved, as a signal: to fluctuate.--_v.t._ to move backwards and forwards: to brandish: to waft or beckon: to raise into inequalities of surface.--_p.adj._ WAVED, showing a wavelike form or outline: undulating: (_her._) indented: (_nat. hist._) having on the margin a succession of curved segments or incisions.--_n._ WAVE'-LENGTH, the distance between the crests of adjacent waves.--_adj._ WAVE'LESS, free from waves: undisturbed.--_n._ WAVE'LET, a little wave.--_adj._ WAVE'LIKE.--_ns._ WAVE'-LINE, the outline, path, of a wave: the surface of the waves: the line made by a wave on the shore; WAVE'-LOAF, a loaf for a wave-offering; WAVE'-M[=O]'TION, undulatory movement; WAVE'-MOULD'ING (_archit._), undulating moulding; WAVE'-OFF'ERING, an ancient Jewish custom of moving the hands in succession towards the four points of the compass in presenting certain offerings--opposed to the _Heave-offering_, in which the hands were only lifted up and lowered.--_v.t._ W[=A]'VER, to move to and fro: to shake: to falter: to be unsteady or undetermined: to be in danger of falling.--_ns._ W[=A]'VERER; W[=A]'VERING.--_adv._ W[=A]'VERINGLY, in a wavering or irresolute manner.--_n._ W[=A]'VERINGNESS.--_adjs._ W[=A]'VEROUS, W[=A]'VERY, unsteady.--_n._ WAVE'SON, goods floating on the sea after a shipwreck.--_adj._ WAVE'-WORN, worn or washed away by the waves.--_ns._ W[=A]'VINESS, the state or quality of being wavy; W[=A]'VING.--_adj._ W[=A]'VY, full of or rising in waves: playing to and fro: undulating.--HOT WAVE, WARM WAVE, a movement of heat or warmth onwards, generally eastward. [A.S. _wafian_, to wave; cf. Ice. _vafra_, to waver.]
WAVEY, WAVY, waw'vi, _n._ the snow-goose.
WAWE, waw, _n._ (_Spens._) a wave.
WAX, waks, _n._ the name given to some animal and vegetable substances, and even to one or two mineral bodies (e.g. _ozokerite_), which more or less resemble beeswax both in their appearance and in their physical properties: the fat-like yellow substance produced by bees, and used by them in making their cells: any substance like it, as that in the ear: the substance used to seal letters: that used by shoemakers to rub their thread: in coal-mining, puddled clay: a thick sugary substance made by boiling down the sap of the sugar-maple, and cooling by exposure to the air: (_coll._) a passion.--_v.t._ to smear or rub with wax.--_ns._ WAX'-BILL, one of various small spermestine seed-eating birds with bills like sealing-wax; WAX'-CHAND'LER, a maker or dealer in wax candles; WAX'-CLOTH, cloth covered with a coating of wax, used for table-covers, &c., a popular name for all oil floorcloths; WAX'-DOLL, a child's doll having the head and bust made of hardened beeswax.--_adj._ WAX'EN, made of wax, like wax, easily effaced.--_ns._ WAX'-END, better WAXED END, a strong thread having its end stiffened by shoemakers' wax, so as to go easily through the hole made by the awl; WAX'ER, one who or that which waxes; WAX'-FLOW'ER, a flower made of wax; WAX'INESS, waxy appearance; WAX'ING, a method of putting a finish on dressed leather: the process of stopping out colours in calico-printing; WAX'-IN'SECT, an insect which secretes wax; WAX'-LIGHT, a candle or taper made of wax; WAX'-MOD'ELLING, the process of forming figures in wax; WAX'-MOTH, a bee-moth; WAX'-MYR'TLE, the candle-berry tree; WAX'-PAINT'ING, a kind of painting, the pigments for which are ground with wax and diluted with oil of turpentine; WAX'-PALM, either of two South American palms yielding wax; WAX'-P[=A]'PER, paper prepared by spreading over its surface a thin coating made of white wax and other materials.--_adj._ WAX'-RED (_Shak._), bright-red like sealing-wax.--_ns._ WAX'TREE, a genus of plants of natural order _Hypericaceae_, all whose species yield a yellow resinous juice when wounded, forming when dried the so-called American gamboge; WAX'-WING, a genus of small Passerine birds, so named from most of the species having small red horny appendages, resembling red sealing-wax, on their wings; WAX'WORK, work made of wax, esp. figures or models formed of wax: (_pl._) an exhibition of wax figures; WAX'WORKER.--_adj._ WAX'Y, resembling wax: soft: pallid, pasty: adhesive: (_slang_) irate, incensed.--WAXY DEGENERATION, a morbid process in which the healthy tissue of various organs is transformed into a peculiar waxy albuminous substance--also _amyloid_ or _lardaceous degeneration_. [A.S. _weax_; Ice.
_vax_, Dut. _was_, Ger. _wachs_.]
WAX, waks, _v.i._ to grow or increase, esp. of the moon, as opposed to _Wane_: to pass into another state.--_pa.p._ WAX'EN (_B._), grown. [A.S.
_weaxan_; Ice. _vaxa_, Ger. _wachsen_, L. _aug[=e]re_, to increase, Gr.
_auxanein_.]
WAY, w[=a], _v.t._ (_Spens._) to weigh, esteem.
WAY, w[=a], _n._ passage: road: length of space: distance: direction: manner of life: condition, state: advance in life: general manner of acting: means: manner: will: (_naut._) progress or motion through the water, headway.--_v.i._ (_Spens._) to journey.--_ns._ WAY'-BAG'GAGE (_U.S._), baggage to be laid down at a way-station; WAY'-BILL, list of passengers and goods carried by a coach; WAY'-BOARD, WEIGH'-BOARD, a thin stratum or seam separating thicker strata; WAY'BREAD, the common plantain.--_v.i._ WAY'F[=A]RE, to travel on foot.--_n._ WAY'F[=A]RER, a traveller or passenger.--_adj._ WAY'F[=A]RING, travelling or passing.--_n._ WAY'F[=A]RING-TREE, the _Viburnum lantana_, a large shrub common in British hedges.--_adjs._ WAY'-G[=O]'ING, departing; WAY'GONE, exhausted by travelling.--_v.t._ WAY'LAY, to lie in the way for: to watch or lie in ambush for.--_n._ WAYLAY'ER.--_adj._ WAY'LESS, without a path.--_ns._ WAY'-M[=A]K'ER, a pioneer, path-finder; WAY'-MARK, -POST, guide-post; WAY'-PASS'ENGER, one taken up or set down by the way; WAY'-SIDE, the side of a way, path, or highway.--_adj._ growing or lying near the way-side.--_ns._ WAY'-SLID'ING (_rare_), a wandering from the right way; WAY'-ST[=A]'TION, an intermediate station between principal stations on a railway; WAY'-THIS'TLE, the Canada thistle; WAY'-TRAFF'IC, local traffic, as distinguished from through or express traffic; WAY'-TRAIN (_U.S._), a train stopping at most of the stations on a line.--_adj._ WAY'WARD, froward: wilful: irregular.--_n._ WAY'-WAR'DEN, a keeper of roads.--_adv._ WAY'WARDLY.--_n._ WAY'WARDNESS.--_adj._ WAY'WORN, worn-out by travel.--_n._ RIGHT'-OF-WAY (see RIGHT).--WAY OF THE CROSS, a series of pictorial representations representing the stages of Christ's progress to Calvary: devotions used in connection with these stages; WAYS AND MEANS, resources: methods of raising money for the carrying on of government.--BE UNDER WAY, HAVE WAY (_naut._), to be in progress, as a vessel; BY THE WAY, as we go on; BY WAY OF, as for the purpose of: in character of; COME ONE'S WAY, to come in one's direction; COMMITTEE OF WAYS AND MEANS, the House of Commons in its capacity of raising the supplies; GIVE WAY (see GIVE); GO ONE'S WAY (see GO); GO THE WAY OF ALL THE EARTH, to die; HAVE ONE'S WAY, to carry one's point or wish; IN A SMALL WAY, on a petty scale; IN THE FAMILY WAY (see FAMILY); IN THE WAY, on the way: impeding, obstructing; IN THE WAY OF, in a good position for effecting something: in respect of; LEAD THE WAY, to act as a guide in any movement; MAKE ONE'S WAY, to push one's self forward; MAKE WAY, to give room: to advance; ON THE WAY, in progress; OUT OF THE WAY, so as not to hinder or obstruct: away from the ordinary course: unusual: (_Shak._) lost, hidden; PUT ONE'S SELF OUT OF THE WAY, to give one's self trouble; TAKE ONE'S WAY, to set out: to follow one's own inclination or plan; THE WAY, the Christian Religion (Acts ix. 2, &c.).
[A.S. _weg_; Ger. _weg_, L. _via_, Sans. _vaha_, akin to _veh[)e]re_, to carry.]
WAYGOOSE, w[=a]'g[=oo]s, _n._ a printers' annual dinner or picnic, formerly one given by an apprentice to his fellow-workmen, at which a _wase-_goose or stubble-goose was the great dish.--Also WASE'-GOOSE, WAYZ'-GOOSE.
WAYMENT, w[=a]-ment', _v.t._ and _v.i._ (_Spens._) to lament, grieve.--_n._ (_Spens._) lamentation, grief. [O. Fr. _waimenter_--L. _lament[=a]ri_, to lament.]
WE, w[=e], _pron.pl._ of I: I and others. [A.S. _we_; cog. with Goth.
_weis_, Ger. _wir_.]
WEAK, w[=e]k, _adj._ soft: wanting strength and vigour: not able to sustain a great weight: wanting health: easily overcome: feeble of mind: wanting moral or mental force: frail: unsteady: slight or incomplete: having little of the chief ingredient: impressible: inconclusive: (_Shak._) inconsiderable: (_gram._) of a verb inflected by regular syllabic addition instead of by change of the main vowel: tending downward in price.--_adj._ WEAK'-BUILT (_Shak._), ill-founded.--_v.t._ WEAK'EN, to make weak: to reduce in strength or spirit.--_v.i._ to grow weak or weaker.--_n._ WEAK'ENER, one who or that which weakens.--_adjs._ WEAK'-EYED, having weak eyes or sight; WEAK'-HAND'ED, powerless; WEAK'-HEAD'ED, having a feeble intellect; WEAK'-HEART'ED (_Shak._), of weak or feeble heart or spirit; WEAK'-HINGED, ill-balanced; WEAK'-KNEED, having weak knees: weak in will.--_n._ WEAK'LING, a weak or feeble creature.--_adv._ WEAK'LY.--_adj._ WEAK'-MIND'ED, of feeble powers of mind.--_ns._ WEAK'-MIND'EDNESS; WEAK'NESS.--_adjs._ WEAK'-SIGHT'ED, having feeble eyesight; WEAK'-SPIR'ITED, bearing wrong tamely, cowardly.--WEAKER SEX, women; WEAKER VESSEL (see VESSEL).--WEAK SIDE, POINT, that side or point in which a person is most easily influenced or most liable to temptation. [A.S. _wac_, pliant--_wican_, to yield; Dut. _week_, Ice. _veikr_, Ger. _weich_.]
WEAL, w[=e]l, _n._ state of being well: a sound or prosperous state: welfare.--_adj._ WEAL'-BAL'ANCED (_Shak._), explained by Schmidt as kept in a state of just proportion by reasons of state.--_n._ WEALS'MAN (_Shak._), a statesman.--THE PUBLIC, GENERAL, or COMMON WEAL, the well-being, interest, and prosperity of the country. [A.S. _wela_, wealth, bliss; Ger.
_wohl_.]
WEAL, w[=e]l, _n._ a form of _wale_.
WEALD, w[=e]ld, _n._ any open country.--_adj._ WEALD'EN, pertaining to the _Weald_.--_n._ a geological formation seen in the Weald--viz. the upper oolitic series of rocks.--THE WEALD, a district comprising portions of Kent and Sussex, extending from Folkestone Hill near the Straits of Dover to Beachy Head. [From the root of _wild_; not directly conn. with A.S.
_weald_, a forest, wold.]
WEALTH, welth, _n._ large possessions of any kind: riches.--_adv._ WEALTH'ILY.--_n._ WEALTH'INESS.--_adj._ WEALTH'Y, rich: prosperous: well-fed. [An extension of _weal_.]
WEAN, w[=e]n, _v.t._ to accustom to nourishment other than the mother's milk: to reconcile to the want of anything: to estrange the affections from any object or habit.--_n._ (w[=a]n) an infant, a child (_Scot._).--_ns._ WEAN'EL (_Spens._), a weanling; WEAN'ING-BRASH, a severe form of diarrhoea, which supervenes, at times, on weaning.--_adj._ WEAN'LING, newly weaned.--_n._ a child or animal newly weaned. [A.S. _wenian_; Ice. _venja_, Ger. _gewohnen_, to accustom, _ent-wohnen_, to disuse, to wean.]
WEAPON, wep'un, _n._ any instrument or organ of offence or defence.--_adjs._ WEAP'ONED; WEAP'ONLESS, having no weapons.--_n._ WEAP'ON-SALVE, a salve supposed to cure a wound by being applied to the weapon that made it. [A.S. _w['ae]pen_; Goth. _wepna_, arms, Ger. _waffen_ and _wappen_.]
WEAPON-SCHAW=_Wapinschaw_ (q.v.).
WEAR, w[=a]r, _v.t._ to carry on the body: to have the appearance of: to consume by use, time, or exposure: to waste by rubbing: to do by degrees: to exhaust, efface: (_naut._) to veer.--_v.i._ to be wasted by use or time: to be spent tediously: to consume slowly: to last under use: (_Shak._) to be in fashion, to become accustomed: (_naut._) to come round away from the wind: (_obs._) to become:--_pa.t._ w[=o]re; _pa.p._ w[=o]rn.--_n._ act of wearing: lessening or injury by use or friction: article worn.--_adj._ WEAR'ABLE, fit to be worn.--_n._ WEAR'ER.--_p.adj._ WEAR'ING, made or designed for wear: consuming, exhausting.--_n._ the process of wasting by attrition or time: that which is worn, clothes.--_ns._ WEAR'ING-APPAR'EL, dress; WEAR'-[=I]'RON, a friction-guard.--WEAR AND TEAR, loss by wear or use; WEAR AWAY, to impair, consume; WEAR OFF, to rub off by friction: to diminish by decay: to pass away by degrees; WEAR OUT, to impair by use: to render useless by decay: to consume tediously: to harass. [A.S. _werian_, to wear; Ice. _verja_, to cover, Goth. _wasjan_.]
WEAR, w[=e]r, _n._ another spelling of _weir_.
WEAR, w[=e]r, _v.t._ (_obs._) to guard, ward off: to guide. [A.S. _werian_, to guard, from root of _wary_.]
WEARISH, w[=e]r'ish, _adj._ (_Spens._) withered, shrunk.
WEARY, w[=e]'ri, _adj._ worn-out: having the strength or patience exhausted: tired: causing weariness: (_prov._) puny.--_v.t._ to wear out or make weary: to reduce the strength or patience of: to harass.--_v.i._ to become weary or impatient: to long for.--_adjs._ WEA'RIED, tired; WEA'RIFUL, wearisome.--_adv._ WEA'RIFULLY.--_adj._ WEA'RILESS, incessant.--_adv._ WEA'RILY.--_n._ WEA'RINESS.--_adj._ WEA'RISOME, making weary: tedious.--_adv._ WEA'RISOMELY.--_n._ WEA'RISOMENESS.--WEARY OUT, to exhaust. [A.S. _werig_, weary.]
WEARY, w[=e]'ri, _n._ (_Scot._) a curse, as in 'weary on you.'
WEASAND, w[=e]'zand, _n._ the windpipe: the throat. [A.S. _wasend_; not to be traced to A.S. _hwesan_ (Ice. _hvaesa_), to wheeze.]
WEASEL, w[=e]'zl, _n._ a common carnivore belonging to the same genus as the polecat and stoat--the body long and slender--eating rats, frogs, birds, mice, &c.: (_Shak._) a lean, hungry fellow.--_n._ WEA'SEL-COOT, the red-headed smew.--_adj._ WEA'SEL-FACED, having a lean sharp face. [A.S.
_wesle_; Ger. _wiesel_.]
WEATHER, weth'[.e]r, _n._ state of the air as to heat or cold, dryness, wetness, cloudiness, &c.--_v.t._ to affect by exposing to the air: to sail to the windward of: to gain or pass, as a promontory or cape: to hold out stoutly against difficulties.--_v.i._ to become discoloured by exposure.--_adj._ (_naut._) toward the wind, windward.--_adjs._ WEATH'ER-BEAT'EN, distressed or seasoned by the weather; WEATH'ER-BIT'TEN, worn or defaced by exposure to the winds.--_n._ WEATH'ER-BOARD, the windward side of a ship: a plank in the port of a laid-up vessel placed so as to keep off rain, without preventing air to circulate.--_v.t._ to fit with such planks.--_n._ WEATH'ER-BOARD'ING, thin boards placed overlapping to keep out rain: exterior covering of a wall or roof.--_adj._ WEATH'ER-BOUND, delayed by bad weather.--_ns._ WEATH'ER-BOX, -HOUSE, a toy constructed on the principle of a barometer, consisting of a house with the figures of a man and wife who come out alternately as the weather is respectively bad or good; WEATH'ER-CLOTH, a tarpaulin protecting boats, hammocks, &c.; WEATH'ERCOCK, a vane (often in the form of a cock) to show the direction of the wind: anything turning easily and often.--_v.t._ to act as a weathercock for.--_p.adj._ WEATH'ER-DRIV'EN, driven by winds or storms.--_adj._ WEATH'ERED (_archit._), made slightly sloping, so as to throw off water: (_geol._) having the surface altered in colour, form, texture, or composition by the action of the elements.--_n._ WEATH'ER-EYE, the eye considered as the means by which one forecasts the weather.--_v.t._ WEATH'ER-FEND (_Shak._), to defend from the weather, to shelter.--_ns._ WEATH'ER-GAGE, the position of a ship to the windward of another: advantage of position; WEATH'ER-GLASS, a glass or instrument that indicates the changes of the weather: a barometer; WEATH'ER-GLEAM (_prov._), a bright aspect of the sky at the horizon; WEATH'ER-HELM, a keeping of the helm somewhat a-weather when a vessel shows a tendency to come into the wind while sailing; WEATH'ERING (_archit._), a slight inclination given to the top of a cornice or moulding, to prevent water from lodging on it: (_geol._) the action of the elements in altering the form, colour, texture, or composition of rocks.--_adj._ WEATH'ERLY (_naut._), making little leeway when close-hauled.--_n._ WEATH'ER-MAP, a map indicating meteorological conditions over a large tract of country.--_adj._ WEATH'ERMOST, farthest to windward.--_n._ WEATH'ER-NOT[=A]'TION, a system of abbreviation for meteorological phenomena.--_adj._ WEATH'ER-PROOF, proof against rough weather.--_ns._ WEATH'ER-PROPH'ET, one who foretells weather: a device for foretelling the weather; WEATH'ER-ROLL, the lurch of a vessel to windward when in the trough of the sea; WEATH'ER-SER'VICE, an institution for superintending and utilising observed meteorological phenomena; WEATH'ER-SIDE, the windward side; WEATH'ER-SIGN, a phenomenon indicating change of weather: any prognostic; WEATH'ER-STAIN, discolouration produced by exposure; WEATH'ER-ST[=A]'TION, a station where phenomena of weather are observed; WEATH'ER-STRIP, a thin piece of some material used to keep out wind and cold; WEATH'ER-SYM'BOL, a conventional sign indicating some meteorological phenomenon.--_adjs._ WEATH'ER-WISE, wise or skilful in foreseeing the changes or state of the weather; WEATH'ER-WORN, worn by exposure to the weather.--WEATHER ANCHOR, the anchor lying to windward; WEATHER A POINT, to gain an advantage or accomplish a purpose against opposition; WEATHER OUT (_obs._), to hold out against till the end.--KEEP ONE'S WEATHER EYE OPEN, to be on one's guard, to have one's wits in readiness; MAKE FAIR WEATHER (_Shak._), to conciliate: to flatter; STRESS OF WEATHER, violent and especially unfavourable winds, force of tempests.
[A.S. _weder_; Ice. _vedhr_, Ger. _wetter_.]
WEAVE, w[=e]v, _v.t._ to twine threads together: to unite threads in a loom to form cloth: to work into a fabric: to unite by intermixture: to construct, contrive.--_v.i._ to practise weaving:--_pa.t._ w[=o]ve, (rarely) weaved; _pa.p._ w[=o]v'en.--_ns._ WEAV'ER; WEAV'ER-BIRD, a family of Passerine birds resembling the finches, so called from their remarkably woven nests; WEAV'ING, the act or art of forming a web or cloth by the intersecting of two distinct sets of fibres, threads, or yarns--those passing longitudinally from end to end of the web forming the warp, those crossing and intersecting the warp at right angles forming the weft. [A.S.
_wefan_; Ice. _vefa_, Ger. _weben_; cog. with Gr. _hupp[=e]_, a web, _huphainein_, to weave.]
WEAVE, w[=e]v, _v.t._ and _v.i._ (_Spens._) waved, floated.
WEAZAND, w[=e]'zand, _n._ Same as WEASAND.
WEAZEN, w[=e]'zn, _adj._ thin, sharp. [_Wizen_.]
WEB, web, _n._ that which is woven: anything resembling a web, as a roll of cloth, paper, &c.: a plot, scheme: in birds, the blade of a feather: (_anat._) any connective tissue: the fine texture spun by the spider as a snare for flies: a film over the eye: the skin between the toes of water-fowls.--_v.t._ to envelop, to connect with a web.--_adj._ WEBBED, having the toes united by a web or skin.--_n._ WEB'BING, a narrow woven fabric of hemp, used for chairs, &c.: (_zool._) the webs of the digits: (_print._) tapes conducting webs of paper in a printing machine.--_adj._ WEB'BY.--_n._ WEB'-EYE, a film spreading over the eye.--_adjs._ WEB'-EYED; WEB'-FING'ERED.--_n._ WEB'-FOOT, a foot the toes of which are united with a web or membrane.--_adjs._ WEB'-FOOT'ED; WEB'-TOED.--WEB AND PIN (_Shak._), or PIN AND WEB, cataract on the eye. [A.S. _webb_; Ice. _vefr_, Ger.
_gewebe_; from root of _weave_.]
WEBSTER, web'st[.e]r, _n._ (_obs._) a weaver. [A.S. _webbestre_, a female weaver--_webban_, to weave.]
WECHT, weht, _n._ (_Scot._) an instrument for lifting grain. [Perh. conn.
with _weigh_.]
WED, wed, _v.t._ to marry: to join in marriage: to unite closely.--_v.i._ to marry:--_pr.p._ wed'ding; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ wed'ded or wed.--_adj._ WED'DED, married: belonging to marriage: clasped together.--_ns._ WED'DING, marriage: marriage ceremony; WED'DING-BED, the bridal bed; WED'DING-CAKE, a highly decorated cake served at a wedding, and also divided among absent friends.--_n.pl._ WED'DING-CARDS, complimentary cards of a newly married pair, sent to friends.--_ns._ WED'DING-DAY, day of marriage; WED'DING-DOWER, marriage portion; WED'DING-DRESS, a bride's dress; WED'DING-F[=A]VOUR, white rosette worn by men at a wedding; WED'DING-GAR'MENT, garment worn at a wedding; WED'DING-RING, a plain ring given by the groom to the bride at a wedding.--PENNY WEDDING, a wedding where the guests paid for the entertainment, and sometimes contributed to the outfit; SILVER, GOLDEN, DIAMOND WEDDING, the celebrations of the 25th, 50th, and 60th anniversaries of a wedding. [A.S. _weddian_, to engage, to marry (Ger. _wetten_, to wager)--_wed_, a pledge; Goth. _wadi_, Ger.
_wette_, a bet.]
WED, wed, _n._ a pledge, security--(_Scot._) WAD.--_v.t._ to wager. [A.S.
_wed_, a pledge.]
WEDGE, wej, _n._ a piece of wood or metal, thick at one end and sloping to a thin edge at the other, used in splitting: anything shaped like a wedge: a mass of metal: at Cambridge, the man lowest on the list of the classical tripos.--_v.t._ to cleave with a wedge: to force or drive with a wedge: to press closely: to fasten with a wedge: to make into a wedge.--_v.i._ to force one's way like a wedge.--_adjs._ WEDGED, cuneiform or wedge-shaped; WEDGE'-SHAPED, having the shape of a wedge; WEDGE'-TAILED, having the tail wedge-shaped or cuneate.--_adv._ WEDGE'WISE, in the manner of a wedge.--_n._ WEDG'ING, a method of joining timbers.--WEDGE OF LEAST RESISTANCE, the form in which a substance yields to pressure.--THE THIN, or SMALL, END OF THE WEDGE, the insignificant-looking beginning of a principle or practice which will yet lead to something great and important. [A.S.
_wecg_; Ice. _veggr_, Ger. _weck_, a wedge; prob. from the root of _weigh_.]
WEDGWOOD WARE. See WARE.
WEDLOCK, wed'lok, _n._ marriage: matrimony.--BREAK WEDLOCK, to commit adultery. [A.S. _wedlac_--_wed_, _-lac_, a gift.]
WEDNESDAY, wenz'd[=a], _n._ fourth day of the week. [A.S. _Wodenes daeg_, the day of _Woden_ or _Odin_, the chief Teutonic deity.]