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verb (used without object)
1.
to remain inactive or in a state of repose, as until something expected happens (often followed by for, till, or until): to wait for the bus to arrive.
2.
(of things) to be available or in readiness: A letter is waiting for you.
3.
to remain neglected for a time: a matter that can wait.
4.
to postpone or delay something or to be postponed or delayed: We waited a week and then bought the house. Your vacation will have to wait until next month.
5.
to look forward to eagerly: I'm just waiting for the day somebody knocks him down.
verb (used with object)
6.
to continue as one is in expectation of; await: to wait one's turn at a telephone booth.
7.
to postpone or delay in expectation: Don't wait supper for me.
8.
9.
Archaic. to attend upon or escort, especially as a sign of respect.
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Lie in wait
is always a great word to know.
So is flibbertigibbet. Does it mean:
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
| a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison. |
noun
Verb phrases10.
an act or instance of waiting or awaiting; delay; halt: a wait at the border.
11.
a period or interval of waiting: There will be a long wait between trains.
12.
13.
British.
a.
waits, (formerly) a band of musicians employed by a city or town to play music in parades, for official functions, etc.
b.
a street musician, especially a singer.
c.
one of a band of carolers.
d.
a piece sung by carolers, especially a Christmas carol.
14.
Obsolete. a watchman.
15.
wait on,
a.
to perform the duties of an attendant or servant for.
b.
to supply the wants of a person, as serving a meal or serving a customer in a store.
c.
to call upon or visit (a person, especially a superior): to wait on Her Majesty at the palace.
d.
Falconry. (of a hawk) to soar over ground until prey appears.
e.
Chiefly Midland and Southern U.S. to wait for (a person); await.
f.
Also, wait upon. to await (an event).
16.
Idiomswait up,
a.
to postpone going to bed to await someone's arrival.
b.
Informal. to halt and wait for another to join one, as in running or walking: Wait up, I can't walk so fast.
17.
lie in wait, to wait in ambush: The army lay in wait in the forest.
18.
wait table. table (def. 26).
Origin:
1150–1200; (v.) early Middle English waiten < Anglo-French waitier; Old French guaitier < Germanic; cognate with Old High German wahtēn to watch, derivative of wahta a watch (see wake1); (noun) late Middle English < AF derivative of waitier
1150–1200; (v.) early Middle English waiten < Anglo-French waitier; Old French guaitier < Germanic; cognate with Old High German wahtēn to watch, derivative of wahta a watch (see wake1); (noun) late Middle English < AF derivative of waitier
Synonyms
1. await, linger, abide, delay. Wait, tarry imply pausing to linger and thereby putting off further activity until later. Wait usually implies staying for a limited time and for a definite purpose, that is, for something expected: to wait for a train. Tarry is a somewhat archaic word for wait, but it suggests lingering, perhaps aimlessly delaying, or pausing (briefly) in a journey: to tarry on the way home; to tarry overnight at an inn.
1. await, linger, abide, delay. Wait, tarry imply pausing to linger and thereby putting off further activity until later. Wait usually implies staying for a limited time and for a definite purpose, that is, for something expected: to wait for a train. Tarry is a somewhat archaic word for wait, but it suggests lingering, perhaps aimlessly delaying, or pausing (briefly) in a journey: to tarry on the way home; to tarry overnight at an inn.
Usage note
15e, f. Sometimes considered objectionable in standard usage, the idiom wait on meaning “to wait for, to await (a person)” is largely confined to speech or written representations of speech. It is most common in the Midland and Southern United States: Let's not wait on Rachel, she's always late. EXPANDWait on or upon (an event) does not have a regional pattern and occurs in a wide variety of contexts: We will wait on (or upon) his answer and make our decision then. The completion of the merger waits upon news of a drop in interest rates.
COLLAPSE
15e, f. Sometimes considered objectionable in standard usage, the idiom wait on meaning “to wait for, to await (a person)” is largely confined to speech or written representations of speech. It is most common in the Midland and Southern United States: Let's not wait on Rachel, she's always late. EXPANDWait on or upon (an event) does not have a regional pattern and occurs in a wide variety of contexts: We will wait on (or upon) his answer and make our decision then. The completion of the merger waits upon news of a drop in interest rates.
COLLAPSE
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To lie in wait
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
wait
c.1200, "to watch with hostile intent, lie in wait for," from O.N.Fr. waitier "to watch" (Fr. guetter), from Frank. *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
EXPAND wake (v.)). General sense of "remain in some place" is from 1375; meaning "serve as an attendant at a table" is from 1568. The noun is first attested c.1300. To wait (something) out "endure a period of waiting" is recorded from 1909, originally Amer.Eng., in ref. to baseball batters trying to draw a base on balls. Waiting game is recorded from 1890. Waiting room is attested from 1683. Waiting list is recorded from 1897; the verb wait-list "to put (someone) on a waiting list" is recorded from 1960.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases
lie in wait
Remain hidden while preparing to attack, as in The opposition was quietly lying in wait for the incumbent to make his first big mistake. This expression originally alluded to physical attacks and is now often used figuratively. [Mid-1400s] Also see lay for.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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