Chapter 1873

Way" shaft` (?) . 1. (Mach.) A rock shaft.

2. (Mining) An interior shaft, usually one connecting two levels.

Raymond.

-ways <Xpage=1635>

-ways (?) . A suffix formed from way by the addition of the adverbial -s (see -wards ). It is often used interchangeably with wise ; as, end ways or end wise ; no ways or no wise , etc.

Wayside <Xpage=1635>

Way"side` (?) , n. The side of the way; the edge or border of a road or path.

Wayside <Xpage=1635>

Way"side` , a. Of or pertaining to the wayside; as, wayside flowers . "A wayside inn."

Longfellow.

Wayward <Xpage=1635>

Way"ward (?) , a. [OE. weiward , for aweiward , i. e., turned away. See Away , and -ward .] Taking one's own way; disobedient; froward; perverse; willful.

My wife is in a wayward mood. Shak.

Wayward beauty doth not fancy move. Fairfax.

Wilt thou forgive the wayward thought? Keble.

-- Way"ward*ly , adv. -- Way"ward*ness , n.

Way-wise <Xpage=1635>

Way"-wise` (?) , a. Skillful in finding the way; well acquainted with the way or route; wise from having traveled.

Waywiser <Xpage=1635>

Way"wis`er (?) , n. [Cf. G. wegweiser a waymark, a guide; weg way + weisen to show, direct.] An instrument for measuring the distance which one has traveled on the road; an odometer, pedometer, or perambulator.

The waywiser to a coach, exactly measuring the miles, and showing them by an index. Evelyn.

Waywode <Xpage=1635>

Way"wode (?) , n. [Russ. voevoda , or Pol. woiewoda ; properly, a leader of an army, a leader in war. Cf. Vaivode .] Originally, the title of a military commander in various Slavonic countries; afterwards applied to governors of towns or provinces. It was assumed for a time by the rulers of Moldavia and Wallachia, who were afterwards called hospodars , and has also been given to some inferior Turkish officers. [Written also vaivode , voivode , waiwode , and woiwode .]

Waywodeship <Xpage=1635>

Way"wode*ship , n. The office, province, or jurisdiction of a waywode.

Wayworn <Xpage=1635>

Way"worn` (?) , a. Wearied by traveling.

Wayz-goose <Xpage=1635>

Wayz"-goose` (?) , n. [ Wase stubble + goose .]

1. A stubble goose. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

2. An annual feast of the persons employed in a printing office. [Written also way-goose .] [Eng.]

We <Xpage=1635>

We (?) , pron. ; pl. of I. [ Poss. Our (our) or Ours (<?/) ; obj. Us (<?/) . See I .] [As. w<?/ ; akin to OS. w\'c6 , OFries. & LG. wi , D. wij , G. wir , Icel. v<?/r , Sw. & Dan. vi , Goth. weis , Skr. vayam . &root;190.] The plural nominative case of the pronoun of the first person; the word with which a person in speaking or writing denotes a number or company of which he is one, as the subject of an action expressed by a verb.

&hand; We is frequently used to express men in general, including the speaker. We is also often used by individuals, as authors, editors, etc., in speaking of themselves, in order to avoid the appearance of egotism in the too frequent repetition of the pronoun I . The plural style is also in use among kings and other sovereigns, and is said to have been begun by King John of England. Before that time, monarchs used the singular number in their edicts. The German and the French sovereigns followed the example of King John in a. d. 1200.

Weak <Xpage=1635>

Weak (?) , a. [ Compar. Weaker (?) ; superl. Weakest .] [OE. weik , Icel. veikr ; akin to Sw. vek , Dan. veg soft, flexible, pliant, AS. w\'bec weak, soft, pliant, D. week , G. weich , OHG. weih ; all from the verb seen in Icel. v\'c6kja to turn, veer, recede, AS. w\'c6can to yield, give way, G. weichen , OHG. w\'c6hhan , akin to Skr. vij , and probably to E. week , L. vicis a change, turn, Gr. <?/ to yield, give way. \'fb132. Cf. Week , Wink , v. i. Vicissitude .]

1. Wanting physical strength. Specifically: --

(a) Deficient in strength of body; feeble; infirm; sickly; debilitated; enfeebled; exhausted.

A poor, infirm, weak , and despised old man. Shak.

Weak with hunger, mad with love. Dryden.

(b) Not able to sustain a great weight, pressure, or strain; as, a weak timber; a weak rope .

(c) Not firmly united or adhesive; easily broken or separated into pieces; not compact; as, a weak ship .

(d) Not stiff; pliant; frail; soft; as, the weak stalk of a plant .

(e) Not able to resist external force or onset; easily subdued or overcome; as, a weak barrier; as, a weak fortress .

(f) Lacking force of utterance or sound; not sonorous; low; small; feeble; faint.

A voice not soft, weak , piping, and womanish. Ascham.

(g) Not thoroughly or abundantly impregnated with the usual or required ingredients, or with stimulating and nourishing substances; of less than the usual strength; as, weak tea, broth, or liquor; a weak decoction or solution; a weak dose of medicine .

(h) Lacking ability for an appropriate function or office; as, weak eyes; a weak stomach; a weak magistrate; a weak regiment, or army .

2. Not possessing or manifesting intellectual, logical, moral, or political strength, vigor, etc. Specifically: -

(a) Feeble of mind; wanting discernment; lacking vigor; spiritless; as, a weak king or magistrate .

To think every thing disputable is a proof of a weak mind and captious temper. Beattie.

Origen was never weak enough to imagine that there were two Gods. Waterland.

(b) Resulting from, or indicating, lack of judgment, discernment, or firmness; unwise; hence, foolish.

If evil thence ensue, She first his weak indulgence will accuse. Milton.

(c) Not having full confidence or conviction; not decided or confirmed; vacillating; wavering.

Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. Rom. xiv. 1.

(d) Not able to withstand temptation, urgency, persuasion, etc.; easily impressed, moved, or overcome; accessible; vulnerable; as, weak resolutions; weak virtue .

Guard thy heart On this weak side, where most our nature fails. Addison.

(e) Wanting in power to influence or bind; as, weak ties; a weak sense of honor of duty .

(f) Not having power to convince; not supported by force of reason or truth; unsustained; as, a weak argument or case . "Convinced of his weak arguing."

Milton.

A case so weak . . . hath much persisted in. Hooker.

(g) Wanting in point or vigor of expression; as, a weak sentence; a weak style .

(h) Not prevalent or effective, or not felt to be prevalent; not potent; feeble. " Weak prayers."

Shak.

(i) Lacking in elements of political strength; not wielding or having authority or energy; deficient in the resources that are essential to a ruler or nation; as, a weak monarch; a weak government or state .

I must make fair weather yet awhile, Till Henry be more weak , and I more strong. Shak.

(k) (Stock Exchange) Tending towards lower prices; as, a weak market .

3. (Gram.) (a) Pertaining to, or designating, a verb which forms its preterit (imperfect) and past participle by adding to the present the suffix -ed , -d , or the variant form -t ; as in the verbs abash , abashed ; abate , abated ; deny , denied ; feel , felt . See Strong , 19 (a) . (b) Pertaining to, or designating, a noun in Anglo-Saxon, etc., the stem of which ends in -n . See Strong , 19 (b) .

&hand; Weak is often used in the formation of self-explaining compounds; as, weak -eyed, weak -handed, weak -hearted, weak -minded, weak -spirited, and the like.

<page="1636"> Page 1636

Weak conjugation (Gram.) , the conjugation of weak verbs; -- called also new, &or; regular, conjugation , and distinguished from the old , or irregular , conjugation . -- Weak declension (Anglo-Saxon Gram.) , the declension of weak nouns; also, one of the declensions of adjectives. -- Weak side , the side or aspect of a person's character or disposition by which he is most easily affected or influenced; weakness; infirmity. -- Weak sore &or; ulcer (Med.) , a sore covered with pale, flabby, sluggish granulations.

Weak <Xpage=1636>

Weak (?) , v. t. & i. [Cf. AS. w<?/can . w\'becian . See Weak , a. ] To make or become weak; to weaken. [R.]

Never to seek weaking variety. Marston.

Weaken <Xpage=1636>

Weak"en (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Weakened (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Weakening .]

1. To make weak; to lessen the strength of; to deprive of strength; to debilitate; to enfeeble; to enervate; as, to weaken the body or the mind; to weaken the hands of a magistrate; to weaken the force of an objection or an argument .

Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Neh. vi. 9.

2. To reduce in quality, strength, or spirit; as, to weaken tea; to weaken any solution or decoction .

Weaken <Xpage=1636>

Weak"en , v. i. To become weak or weaker; to lose strength, spirit, or determination; to become less positive or resolute; as, the patient weakened ; the witness weakened on cross-examination . "His notion weakens , his discernings are lethargied."

Shak.

Weakener <Xpage=1636>

Weak"en*er (?) , n. One who, or that which, weakens. "[Fastings] weakeners of sin."

South.

Weakfish <Xpage=1636>

Weak"fish` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) Any fish of the genus Cynoscion ; a squeteague; -- so called from its tender mouth. See Squeteague .

Spotted weakfish (Zo\'94l.) , the spotted squeteague.

Weak-hearted <Xpage=1636>

Weak"-heart`ed (?) , a. Having little courage; of feeble spirit; dispirited; faint-hearted. " Weak-hearted enemies."

Shak.

Weakish <Xpage=1636>

Weak"ish , a. Somewhat weak; rather weak.

Weakishness <Xpage=1636>

Weak"ish*ness , n. Quality or state of being weakish.

Weak-kneed <Xpage=1636>

Weak"-kneed` (?) , a. Having weak knees; hence, easily yielding; wanting resolution.

H. James.

Weakling <Xpage=1636>

Weak"ling (?) , n. [ Weak + -ling .] A weak or feeble creature. Shak . "All looking on him as a weakling , which would post to the grave." Fuller .

We may not be weaklings because we have a strong enemy. Latimer.

Weakling <Xpage=1636>

Weak"ling , a. Weak; feeble.

Sir T. North.

Weakly <Xpage=1636>

Weak"ly , adv. In a weak manner; with little strength or vigor; feebly.

Weakly <Xpage=1636>

Weak"ly , a. [ Compar. Weaklier (?) ; superl. Weakliest .] Not strong of constitution; infirm; feeble; as, a weakly woman; a man of a weakly constitution.

Weak-minded <Xpage=1636>

Weak"-mind`ed (?) , a. Having a weak mind, either naturally or by reason of disease; feebleminded; foolish; idiotic. -- Weak"-mind`ed*ness , n.

Weakness <Xpage=1636>

Weak"ness , n. 1. The quality or state of being weak; want of strength or firmness; lack of vigor; want of resolution or of moral strength; feebleness.

2. That which is a mark of lack of strength or resolution; a fault; a defect.

Many take pleasure in spreading abroad the weakness of an exalted character. Spectator.

Syn. -- Feebleness; debility; languor; imbecility; infirmness; infirmity; decrepitude; frailty; faintness.

Weal <Xpage=1636>

Weal (?) , n. The mark of a stripe. See Wale .

Weal <Xpage=1636>

Weal , v. t. To mark with stripes. See Wale .

Weal <Xpage=1636>

Weal , n. [OE. wele , AS. wela , weola , wealth, from wel well. See Well , adv. , and cf. Wealth .]

1. A sound, healthy, or prosperous state of a person or thing; prosperity; happiness; welfare.

God . . . grant you wele and prosperity. Chaucer.

As we love the weal of our souls and bodies. Bacon.

To him linked in weal or woe. Milton.

Never was there a time when it more concerned the public weal that the character of the Parliament should stand high. Macaulay.

2. The body politic; the state; common wealth. [Obs.]

The special watchmen of our English weal . Shak.

Weal <Xpage=1636>

Weal , v. t. To promote the weal of; to cause to be prosperous. [Obs.]

Beau. & Fl.

Weal-balanced <Xpage=1636>

Weal"-bal`anced (?) , a. Balanced or considered with reference to public weal. [Obs.]

Shak.

Weald <Xpage=1636>

Weald (?) , n. [AS. See Wold .] A wood or forest; a wooded land or region; also, an open country; -- often used in place names.

Fled all night long by glimmering waste and weald , And heard the spirits of the waste and weald Moan as she fled. Tennyson.

Weald clay (Geol.) , the uppermost member of the Wealden strata. See Wealden .

Wealden <Xpage=1636>

Weald"en (?; 277) , a. [AS. weald , wald , a forest, a wood. So called because this formation occurs in the wealds , or woods, of Kent and Sussex. See Weald .] (Geol.) Of or pertaining to the lowest division of the Cretaceous formation in England and on the Continent, which overlies the O\'94litic series.

Wealden <Xpage=1636>

Weald"en , n. (Geol.) The Wealden group or strata.

Wealdish <Xpage=1636>

Weald"ish , a. Of or pertaining to a weald, esp. to the weald in the county of Kent, England. [Obs.]

Fuller.

Wealful <Xpage=1636>

Weal"ful (?) , a. Weleful. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Wealsman <Xpage=1636>

Weals"man (?) , n. ; pl. Wealsmen (#) . [ Weal + man .] A statesman; a politician. [R.]

Shak.

Wealth <Xpage=1636>

Wealth (?) , n. [OE. welthe , from wele ; cf. D. weelde luxury. See Weal prosperity.]

1. Weal; welfare; prosperity; good. [Obs.] "Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth ."

1 Cor. x. 24.

2. Large possessions; a comparative abundance of things which are objects of human desire; esp., abundance of worldly estate; affluence; opulence; riches.

I have little wealth to lose. Shak.

Each day new wealth , without their care, provides. Dryden.

Wealth comprises all articles of value and nothing else. F. A. Walker.

Active wealth . See under Active .

Syn. -- Riches; affluence; opulence; abundance.

Wealthful <Xpage=1636>

Wealth"ful (?) , a. Full of wealth; wealthy; prosperous. [R.] Sir T. More . -- Wealth"ful*ly , adv. [R.]

Wealthily <Xpage=1636>

Wealth"i*ly (?) , adv. In a wealthy manner; richly.

I come to wive it wealthily in Padua. Shak.

Wealthiness <Xpage=1636>

Wealth"i*ness , n. The quality or state of being wealthy, or rich; richness; opulence.

Wealthy <Xpage=1636>

Wealth"y (?) , a. [ Compar. Wealthier (?) ; superl. Wealthiest .]

1. Having wealth; having large possessions, or larger than most men, as lands, goods, money, or securities; opulent; affluent; rich.

A wealthy Hebrew of my tribe. Shak.

Thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place. Ps. lxvi. 12.

2. Hence, ample; full; satisfactory; abundant. [R.]

The wealthy witness of my pen. B. Jonson.

Wean <Xpage=1636>

Wean (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Weaned (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Weaning .] [OE. wenen , AS. wenian , wennan , to accustom; akin to D. wennen , G. ge w\'94hnen , OHG. gi wennan , Icel. venja , Sw. v\'84nja , Dan. v\'91nne , Icel. vanr accustomed, wont; cf. AS. \'be wenian to wean, G. ent w\'94hnen . See Wont , a. ]

1. To accustom and reconcile, as a child or other young animal, to a want or deprivation of mother's milk; to take from the breast or udder; to cause to cease to depend on the mother nourishment.

And the child grew, and was weaned ; and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned . Gen. xxi. 8.

2. Hence, to detach or alienate the affections of, from any object of desire; to reconcile to the want or loss of anything. " Wean them from themselves."

Shak.

The troubles of age were intended . . . to wean us gradually from our fondness of life. Swift.

Wean <Xpage=1636>

Wean , n. A weanling; a young child.

I, being but a yearling wean . Mrs. Browning.

Weanedness <Xpage=1636>

Wean"ed*ness , n. Quality or state of being weaned.

Weanel <Xpage=1636>

Wean"el (?) , n. A weanling. [Obs.]

Spenser.

Weanling <Xpage=1636>

Wean"ling , a. & n. from Wean , v.

The weaning of the whelp is the great test of the skill of the kennel man. J. H. Walsh.

Weaning brash . (Med.) See under Brash .

Weanling <Xpage=1636>

Wean"ling (?) , n. [ Wean + -ling .] A child or animal newly weaned; a wean.

Weanling <Xpage=1636>

Wean"ling , a. Recently weaned.

Milton.

Weapon <Xpage=1636>

Weap"on (?; 277) , n. [OE. wepen , AS. w<?/pen ; akin to OS. w<?/pan , OFries. w<?/pin , w<?/pen , D. wapen , G. waffe , OHG. waffan , w\'befan , Icel. v\'bepn , Dan. vaaben , Sw. vapen , Goth. w<?/pna , pl.; of uncertain origin. Cf. Wapentake .]

1. An instrument of offensive of defensive combat; something to fight with; anything used, or designed to be used, in destroying, defeating, or injuring an enemy, as a gun, a sword, etc.

The weapons of our warfare are not carnal. 2 Cor. x. 4.