WHORL, hworl, _n._ a number of leaves in a circle round the stem: a turn in a spiral shell: a volution--e.g. in the ear: the fly of a spindle.--_p.adj._ WHORLED, having whorls: arranged in the form of a whorl or whorls. [By-form of _whirl_.]
WHORTLEBERRY, hwor'tl-ber-i, _n._ a widely-spread health plant with a purple edible berry, called also the _Bilberry_--in Scotland, _Blaeberry_--sometimes abbrev. WHORT. [A.S. _wyrtil_, a shrub (Ger.
_wurzel_, root), dim. of _wyrt_, root, and _berie_, berry; confused rather than conn. with A.S. _heort berge_, berry of the buckthorn.]
WHOSE, h[=oo]z, _pron._ the possessive case of _who_ or _which_.--_pron._ WHOSESOEV'ER (_B._), of whomsoever. [M. E. _hwas_--A.S. _hwaes_, gen. of _hwa_, who.]
WHOSO, h[=oo]'so, WHOSOEVER, h[=oo]-so-ev'[.e]r, _indef. rel. pron._ every one who: whoever.
WHOT, hwot, _adj._ (_Spens._). Same as HOT.
WHUMMLE, a form of _whemmle_.
WHUNSTANE, a form of _whinstone_.
WHY, hw[=i], _adv._ and _conj._ for what cause or reason? on which account: wherefore.--_interj._ used us an expletive or exclamation.--_n._ WHY'-NOT (_obs._), a dilemma.--WHY, SO (_Shak._), an expression of unwilling consent.--THE CAUSE WHY, THE REASON WHY, the reason why a thing is, or is to be done; THE WHY AND WHEREFORE, the whole reason. [A.S. _hwi_, _hw_, instrumental case of _hwa_, who.]
WHYDAH, WHIDAH, hwid'a, _n._ a genus of birds of the Weaver family, natives of the tropical parts of Africa, often brought to Britain as cage-birds.
[From the country of _Whydah_ in Dahomey.]
WICK, wik, _n._ a creek. [Ice. _vik_, a bay. Cf. _Viking_.]
WICK, wik, _v.t._ in curling, to strike a stone in an oblique direction.
[Prob. A.S. _wican_, to bend.]
WICK, wik, _n._ the twisted threads of cotton or other substance in a candle or lamp which draw up the inflammable liquid to a flame. [A.S.
_weoca_; allied to _weak_--A.S. _wac_.]
WICK, wik, _adj._ (_prov._) quick, alive.--_n._ a lively person.
WICK, wik, _n._ a village or town, as in Ber_wick_, Green_wich_. [A.S.
_wic_--L. _vicus_, a village.]
WICKED, wik'ed, _adj._ evil in principle or practice: deviating from morality: sinful: ungodly: mischievous: (_prov._) active, brisk.--_n._ (_B._) a wicked person, (_pl._) wicked persons collectively.--_adv._ WICK'EDLY.--_n._ WICK'EDNESS.--WICKED BIBLE, an edition printed in 1632 in which the word 'not' was omitted in Exodus xx. 14.--THE WICKED ONE, the devil. [Orig. a pa.p. with the sense 'rendered evil' from _wikken_, to make evil, _wikke_, bad; A.S. _wicca_, wizard.]
WICKEN, wik'n, _n._ the mountain-ash or rowan-tree.--Also WICK'Y.
WICKER, wik'[.e]r, _n._ a small pliant twig or osier: wickerwork.--_adj._ made of twigs or osiers.--_adj._ WICK'ERED, made of wicker: covered with wickerwork.--_n._ WICK'ERWORK, basketwork of any kind. [M. E. _wiker_--A.S.
_wicen_, pa.p. of _wican_, to bend.]
WICKET, wik'et, _n._ a small gate: one of three upright rods bowled at in cricket: a batsman's stay at the wicket: the ground where the wickets are placed.--_ns._ WICK'ET-DOOR, -GATE, a wicket; WICK'ET-KEEP'ER, in cricket, the fieldsman who stands immediately behind the wicket. [O. Fr. _wiket_ (Fr. _guichet_), a dim. form, prob. from Ice. _vik-inn_, pa.p. of _vikja_, to move; cf. A.S. _wican_, to bend.]
WIDDERSHINS, WIDERSHINS, &c. See WITHERSHINS.
WIDDY, wid'i, provincial form of _widow_ and of _withy_ (see WITHE).
WIDE, w[=i]d, _adj._ extended far: having a considerable distance between: broad: distant: bulging, expanded: deviating, errant, wild.--_n._ wideness: in cricket, a ball that goes wide of the wicket, counting one to the batting side.--_advs._ W[=I]DE, W[=I]DE'LY.--_adj._ W[=I]DE'-AWAKE', fully awake: on the alert: ready.--_n._ a kind of soft felt hat.--_n._ W[=I]DE'AWAKENESS.--_adj._ W[=I]DE'-CHAPPED, wide-mouthed.--_v.t._ and v.i, W[=I]'DEN, to make or grow wide or wider: (_Shak._) to throw open.--_ns._ W[=I]DE'NER, one who, or that which, widens: a kind of tool; W[=I]DE'NESS, width.--_adjs._ W[=I]DE'-SPREAD, diffused; W[=I]DE'-STRETCHED (_Shak._), large; W[=I]DE'-WA'TERED, bordered or covered by wide waters.--_n._ WIDTH, wideness, breadth. [A.S. _wid_; Ice. _vithr_, Ger. _weit_.]
WIDGEON, WIGEON, wij'on, _n._ a genus of Ducks having the bill shorter than the head, the legs short, the feet rather small, the wings long and pointed, and the tail wedge-shaped: a fool. [O. Fr. _vigeon_--L. _vipio_, _vipionis_, a small crane.]
WIDOW, wid'[=o], _n._ a woman who has lost her husband by death.--_v.t._ to bereave of a husband: to strip of anything valued: (_Shak._) to endow with a widow's right: to be widow to.--_ns._ WID'OW-BENCH, a widow's share of her husband's estate besides her jointure; WID'OW-BEWITCHED', a grass-widow; WID'OW-BIRD, a corruption of WHYDAH-BIRD; WID'OWER, a man whose wife is dead; WID'OWERHOOD; WID'OWHOOD, state of being a widow, or (rarely) of being a widower: (_Shak._) a widow's right; WID'OW-HUN'TER, one who seeks to marry a widow for her money; WID'OW-M[=A]'KER, one who bereaves women of their husbands; WID'OW'S-CHAM'BER, the apparel and bedroom furniture of the widow of a London freeman, to which she was entitled; WID'OW-WAIL, a dwarf shrub with pink, sweet-scented flowers, native to Spain and southern France.--WIDOW'S LAWN, a fine thin muslin; WIDOW'S MAN, a fictitious person; WIDOW'S SILK, a silk fabric with dull surface, for mournings; WIDOW'S WEEDS, the mourning dress of a widow. [A.S.
_widwe_, _wuduwe_; Ger. _wittwe_, L. _vidua_, bereft of a husband, Sans.
_vidhav[=a]_.]
WIELD, w[=e]ld, _v.t._ to use with full command: to manage: to use.--_adj._ WIEL'DABLE, capable of being wielded.--_ns._ WIEL'DER; WIEL'DINESS.--_adjs._ WIELD'LESS (_Spens._), not capable of being wielded, unmanageable; WIEL'DY, capable of being wielded: manageable: dexterous, active.--WIELD THE SCEPTRE, to have supreme command or control. [A.S.
_geweldan_--_wealdan_; Goth. _waldan_, Ger. _walten_.]
WIERY, w[=e]'ri, _adj._ (_obs._) wet, marshy, moist. [A.S. _waer_, a pond.]
WIFE, w[=i]f, _n._ a woman: a married woman: the mistress of a house, a hostess--often in this sense 'goodwife.'--_n._ WIFE'HOOD, the state of being a wife.--_adjs._ WIFE'LESS, without a wife; WIFE'-LIKE, WIFE'LY.
[A.S. _wif_; Ice. _vif_, Ger. _weib_; not conn. with weave.]
WIG, wig, _n._ an artificial covering of hair for the head, worn to conceal baldness, formerly for fashion's sake, as in the full-dress _full-bottomed_ form of Queen Anne's time, still worn by the Speaker and by judges, and the smaller _tie-wig_, still represented by the judge's undress wig and the barrister's or advocate's frizzed wig: a judge. (For BAG-WIG, see BAG.)--_n._ WIG'-BLOCK, a block or shaped piece of wood for fitting a wig on.--_adj._ WIGGED, wearing a wig.--_n._ WIG'GERY, false hair: excess of formality.--_adj._ WIG'LESS, without a wig.--_n._ WIG'-M[=A]'KER, a maker of wigs. [Short for _periwig_.]
WIG, wig, _v.t._ (_coll._) to scold.--_n._ WIG'GING, a scolding. [Prob.
derived from 'to snatch at one's wig,' to handle roughly.]
WIGAN, wig'an, _n._ a stiff canvas-like fabric for stiffening shirts, borders, &c. [_Wigan_, the town.]
WIGEON. See WIDGEON.
WIGGLE, wig'l, _v.i._ (_prov._) to waggle, wriggle.--_n._ a wiggling motion.--_n._ WIGG'LER, one who wriggles.
WIGHT, w[=i]t, _n._ a creature or a person--used chiefly in sport or irony.
[A.S. _wiht_, a creature, prob. from _wegan_, to move, carry; Ger. _wicht_.
Cf. _Whit_.]
WIGHT, w[=i]t, _adj._ swift, nimble: courageous, strong.--_adv._ WIGHT'LY, swiftly, nimbly. [Ice. _vigr_, warlike--_vig_, war (A.S. _wig_).]
WIGWAG, wig'wag, _v.i._ to twist about, to signal by means of flags.--_adj._ twisting.--_adv._ to and fro.
WIGWAM, wig'wam, _n._ an Indian hut. [Eng. corr. of Algonkin word.]
WILD, w[=i]ld, _adj._ frolicsome, light-hearted: being in a state of nature: not tamed or cultivated: uncivilised: desert: unsheltered: violent: eager, keen: licentious: fantastic: wide of the mark.--_n._ an uncultivated region: a forest or desert.--_ns._ W[=I]LD'-ASS, an Asiatic or African ass living naturally in a wild state; W[=I]LD'-BOAR, a wild swine or animal of the hog kind.--_adj._ W[=I]LD'-BORN, born in a wild state.--_n._ W[=I]LD'-CAT, the undomesticated cat.--_adj._ (_U.S._) haphazard, reckless, unsound financially.--_ns._ W[=I]LD'-CHERR'Y, any uncultivated tree bearing cherries, or its fruit; W[=I]LD'-DUCK, any duck excepting the domesticated duck.--_v.t._ WILDER (wil'd[.e]r), to bewilder.--_v.i._ to wander widely or wildly.--_adv._ WIL'DEREDLY, in a wildered manner.--_ns._ WIL'DERING, any plant growing wild, esp. one that has escaped from a state of cultivation; WIL'DERMENT, confusion; WIL'DERNESS, a wild or waste place: an uncultivated region: a confused mass: (_Shak._) wildness; W[=I]LD'-FIRE, a composition of inflammable materials: a kind of lightning flitting at intervals: a disease of sheep; W[=I]LD'-FOWL, the birds of the duck tribe: game-birds; W[=I]LD'-FOWL'ING, the pursuit of wild-fowl; W[=I]LD'-GOOSE, a bird of the goose kind which is wild or feral; W[=I]LD'-GOOSE-CHASE (see CHASE); W[=I]LD-HON'EY, the honey of wild bees; W[=I]LD'ING, that which grows wild or without cultivation: a wild crab-apple.--_adj._ uncultivated.--_adj._ W[=I]LD'ISH, somewhat wild.--_n._ W[=I]LD'-LAND, land completely uncultivated.--_adv._ W[=I]LD'LY.--_ns._ W[=I]LD'NESS; W[=I]LD'-OAT, a tall perennial Old World grass.--_adj._ W[=I]LD'-WOOD, belonging to wild uncultivated wood.--_n._ a forest.--WILD ANIMALS, undomesticated animals; WILD BIRDS, birds not domesticated, esp. those protected at certain seasons under the Act of 1880; WILD HUNT, the name given in Germany to a noise sometimes heard in the air at night, mostly between Christmas and Epiphany, as of a host of spirits rushing along, accompanied by the shouting of huntsmen and the baying of dogs--the 'Seven Whistlers' and 'Gabriel's Hounds' of our own north country; WILD SHOT, a chance shot.--_Run wild_, to take to loose living: to revert to the wild or uncultivated state; SOW WILD OATS (see OAT). [A.S. _wild_; prob. orig. 'self-willed,' from the root of _will_; Ger. _wild_.]
WILD, w[=i]ld, a variety of _weald_.
WILDGRAVE, w[=i]ld'gr[=a]v, _n._ a German noble, whose office was connected with hunting. [Ger. _wild_, game, _graf_, count.]
WILE, w[=i]l, _n._ a trick: a sly artifice.--_v.t._ to beguile, inveigle: coax, cajole: to make to pass easily or pleasantly (confused with _while_).--_adj._ WILE'FUL, full of wiles. [A.S. _wil_, _wile_; Ice. _vel_, _vael_, a trick. Doublet _guile_.]
WILL, wil, _n._ power of choosing or determining: volition: choice or determination: pleasure: command: arbitrary disposal: feeling towards, as in good or ill will: disposition of one's effects at death, the written document containing such.--_v.i._ to have a wish, desire: to resolve, be resolved: to be accustomed, certain, ready, or sure (to do, &c.)--used as an auxiliary, esp. in future constructions: to exercise the will: to decree: (_B._) to be willing.--_v.t._ to wish, desire: to determine: to be resolved to do: to command: to dispose of by will: to subject to another's will, as in hypnotism:--_pa.t._ would.--_adj._ WIL'FUL, governed only by one's will: done or suffered by design: obstinate: (_Shak._) willing.--_adv._ WIL'FULLY.--_n._ WIL'FULNESS.--_adj._ WILLED, having a will: brought under another's will.--_n._ WILL'ER, one who wishes, one who wills.--_adjs._ WILL'ING, having the will inclined to a thing: desirous: disposed: chosen; WILL'ING-HEART'ED, heartily consenting.--_adv._ WILL'INGLY.--_n._ WILL'INGNESS.--_adj._ WILL'YARD (_Scot._), wilful: shy.--_ns._ GOOD'-WILL (see GOOD); ILL'-WILL (see ILL).--AT WILL, at pleasure; CONJOINT, JOINT, WILL, a testamentary act by two persons jointly in the same instrument; HAVE ONE'S WILL, to obtain what one desires; TENANT AT WILL, one who holds lands at the will of the owner; WITH A WILL, with all one's heart; WORK ONE'S WILL, to do exactly what one wants. [A.S.
_willa_, will--_willan_, _wyllan_, to wish; Goth. _wiljan_, Ger. _wollen_, L. _velle_.]
WILLET, wil'et, _n._ a North American bird of the snipe family, belonging to the tattler group--also _Stone-curlew_.
WILLIEWAUGHT, wil'i-waht, _n._ (_Scot._), for _gude-willie waught_. [See WAUGHT.]
WILL-O'-THE-WISP, wil'-o-the-wisp', _n._ the ignis-fatuus: any deluding person or thing.