Chapter 1891

The famous orators . . . whose resistless eloquence Wielded at will that fierce democraty. Milton.

Her newborn power was wielded from the first by unprincipled and ambitions men. De Quincey.

3. To use with full command or power, as a thing not too heavy for the holder; to manage; to handle; hence, to use or employ; as, to wield a sword; to wield the scepter .

Base Hungarian wight! wilt thou the spigot wield ! Shak.

Part wield their arms, part curb the foaming steed. Milton.

Nothing but the influence of a civilized power could induce a savage to wield a spade. S. S. Smith.

To wield the scepter , to govern with supreme command.

Wieldable <Xpage=1652>

Wield"a*ble (?) , a. Capable of being wielded.

Wieldance <Xpage=1652>

Wield"ance (?) , n. The act or power of wielding. [Obs.] "Our weak wieldance ."

Bp. Hall.

Wielder <Xpage=1652>

Wield"er (?) , n. One who wields or employs; a manager; a controller.

A wielder of the great arm of the war. Milton.

Wielding <Xpage=1652>

Wield"ing , n. Power; authority; rule. [Obs.]

To have them in your might and in your wielding . Chaucer.

Wieldless <Xpage=1652>

Wield"less , a. Not to be wielded; unmanageable; unwieldy. [R.] " Wieldless might."

Spenser.

Wieldsome <Xpage=1652>

Wield"some (?) , a. Admitting of being easily wielded or managed. [Obs.]

Golding.

Wieldy <Xpage=1652>

Wield"y (?) , a. Capable of being wielded; manageable; wieldable; -- opposed to unwieldy . [R.]

Johnson.

Wier <Xpage=1652>

Wier (?) , n. Same as Weir .

Wierangle <Xpage=1652>

Wier`an"gle (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) Same as Wariangle . [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

Wiery <Xpage=1652>

Wier"y (?) , a. [Cf. Wearish .] Wet; moist; marshy. [Obs.]

Wiery <Xpage=1652>

Wi"er*y (?) , a. [From Wire ; cf. Fiery .] Wiry. [Obs.] " Wiery gold."

Peacham.

Wife <Xpage=1652>

Wife (?) , n. ; pl; Wives (#) . [OE. wif , AS. wif ; akin to OFries. & OS. wif , D. wijf , G. weib , OHG. w\'c6b , Icel. v\'c6f , Dan. viv ; and perhaps to Skr. vip excited, agitated, inspired, vip to tremble, L. vibrare to vibrate, E. vibrate . Cf. Tacitus, [" Germania" 8]: Inesse quin etiam sanctum aliquid et providum putant, nec aut consilia earum aspernantur aut responsa neglegunt. Cf. Hussy a jade, Woman .]

1. A woman; an adult female; -- now used in literature only in certain compounds and phrases, as ale wife , fish wife , good wife , and the like. " Both men and wives ."

Piers Plowman.

On the green he saw sitting a wife . Chaucer.

2. The lawful consort of a man; a woman who is united to a man in wedlock; a woman who has a husband; a married woman; -- correlative of husband . " The husband of one wife ."

1 Tin. iii. 2.

Let every one you . . . so love his wife even as himself, and the wife see that she reverence her husband. Eph. v. 33.

To give to wife , To take to wife , to give or take (a woman) in marriage. -- Wife's equity (Law) , the equitable right or claim of a married woman to a reasonable and adequate provision, by way of settlement or otherwise, out of her choses in action, or out of any property of hers which is under the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery, for the support of herself and her children. Burrill.

Wifehood <Xpage=1652>

Wife"hood (?) , n. [AS. wifh\'bed .]

1. Womanhood. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

2. The state of being a wife; the character of a wife.

Wifeless <Xpage=1652>

Wife"less , a. Without a wife; unmarried.

Chaucer.

Wifelike <Xpage=1652>

Wife"like` (?) , a. Of, pertaining to, or like, a wife or a woman. " Wifelike government."

Shak.

Wifely <Xpage=1652>

Wife"ly , a. [AS. w\'c6flic .] Becoming or life; of or pertaining to a wife. " Wifely patience."

Chaucer.

With all the tenderness of wifely love. Dryden.

Wig <Xpage=1652>

Wig (?) , n. [Abbreviation from periwig .]

1. A covering for the head, consisting of hair interwoven or united by a kind of network, either in imitation of the natural growth, or in abundant and flowing curls, worn to supply a deficiency of natural hair, or for ornament, or according to traditional usage, as a part of an official or professional dress, the latter especially in England by judges and barristers.

2. An old seal; -- so called by fishermen.

Wig tree . (Bot.) See Smoke tree , under Smoke .

Wig <Xpage=1652>

Wig (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Wigged (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Wigging (?) .] To censure or rebuke; to hold up to reprobation; to scold. [Slang]

Wigan <Xpage=1652>

Wig"an (?) , n. A kind of canvaslike cotton fabric, used to stiffen and protect the lower part of trousers and of the skirts of women's dresses, etc.; -- so called from Wigan , the name of a town in Lancashire, England.

Wigeon <Xpage=1652>

Wi"geon (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) A widgeon. [R.]

Wigg, Wig <Xpage=1652>

Wigg (?) , Wig , n. [Cf. D. wegge a sort of bread, G. weck , orig., a wedge-shaped loaf or cake. See Wedge .] A kind of raised seedcake. " Wiggs and ale."

Pepys.

Wigged <Xpage=1652>

Wigged (?) , a. Having the head covered with a wig; wearing a wig.

Wiggery <Xpage=1652>

Wig"ger*y (?) , n. 1. A wig or wigs; false hair. [R.]

A. Trollope.

2. Any cover or screen, as red-tapism. [R.]

Fire peels the wiggeries away from them [facts.] Carlyle.

Wiggle <Xpage=1652>

Wig"gle (?) , v. t. & i. [Cf. Wag , v. t. , Waggle .] To move to and fro with a quick, jerking motion; to bend rapidly, or with a wavering motion, from side to side; to wag; to squirm; to wriggle; as, the dog wiggles his tail; the tadpole wiggles in the water. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U. S.]

Wiggle <Xpage=1652>

Wig"gle , n. Act of wiggling; a wriggle. [Colloq.]

Wiggler <Xpage=1652>

Wig"gler (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) The young, either larva or pupa, of the mosquito; -- called also wiggletail .

Wigher <Xpage=1652>

Wig"her (?) , v. i. [Cf. G. wiehern , E. whine .] To neigh; to whinny. [Obs.]

Beau. & Fl.

Wight <Xpage=1652>

Wight (?) , n. Weight. [Obs.]

Wight <Xpage=1652>

Wight , n. [OE. wight , wiht , a wight, a whit, AS. wiht , wuht , a creature, a thing; skin to D. wicht a child, OS. & OHG. wiht a creature, thing, G. wicht a creature, Icel. v\'91tt<?/ a wight, v\'91tt<?/ a whit, Goth. wa\'a1hts , wa\'a1ht , thing; cf. Russ. veshche a thing. <?/. Cf. Whit .]

1. A whit; a bit; a jot. [Obs.]

She was fallen asleep a little wight . Chaucer.

2. A supernatural being. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

3. A human being; a person, either male or female; -- now used chiefly in irony or burlesque, or in humorous language. "Worst of all wightes ."

Chaucer.

Every wight that hath discretion. Chaucer.

Oh, say me true if thou wert mortal wight . Milton.

Wight <Xpage=1652>

Wight , a. [OE. wight , wiht , probably of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. v\'c6gr in fighting condition, neut. v\'c6gh <?/<?/<?/ v\'c6g war, akin to AS. w\'c6g See Vanquish .] Swift; nimble; agile; strong and active. [Obs. or Poetic]

'T is full wight , God wot, as is a roe. Chaucer.

He was so wimble and so wight . Spenser.

They were Night and Day, and Day and Night, Pilgrims wight with steps forthright. Emerson.

Wightly <Xpage=1652>

Wight"ly , adv. Swiftly; nimbly; quickly. [Obs.]

Wigless <Xpage=1652>

Wig"less (?) , a. Having or wearing no wig.

Wigwag <Xpage=1652>

Wig"wag` (?) , v. i. [See Wag , v. t. ] (Naut.) To signal by means of a flag waved from side to side according to a code adopted for the purpose. [Colloq.]

Wigwam <Xpage=1652>

Wig"wam (?) , n. [From the Algonquin or Massachusetts Indian word w&emac;k , "his house," or "dwelling place;" with possessive and locative affixes, w&emac;-kou-om-ut , "in his (or their) house," contracted by the English to weekwam , and wigwam .] An Indian cabin or hut, usually of a conical form, and made of a framework of poles covered with hides, bark, or mats; -- called also tepee . [Sometimes written also weekwam .]

Very spacious was the wigwam , Made of deerskin dressed and whitened, With the gods of the Dacotahs Drawn and painted on its curtains. Longfellow.

&hand; "The wigwam , or Indian house, of a circular or oval shape, was made of bark or mats laid over a framework of branches of trees stuck in the ground in such a manner as to converge at the top, where was a central aperture for the escape of smoke from the fire beneath. The better sort had also a lining of mats. For entrance and egress, two low openings were left on opposite sides, one or the other of which was closed with bark or mats, according to the direction of the wind."

Palfrey.

Wike <Xpage=1652>

Wike (?) , n. A temporary mark or boundary, as a bough of a tree set up in marking out or dividing anything, as tithes, swaths to be mowed in common ground, etc.; -- called also wicker . [Prov. Eng.]

Wike <Xpage=1652>

Wike , n. [AS. wic . See Wick a village.] A home; a dwelling. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

Wikke <Xpage=1652>

Wik"ke (?) , a. Wicked. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Wild <Xpage=1652>

Wild (?) , a. [ Compar. Wilder (?) ; superl. Wildest .] [OE. wilde , AS. wilde ; akin to OFries. wilde , D. wild , OS. & OHG. wildi , G. wild , Sw. & Dan. vild , Icel. villr wild, bewildered, astray, Goth. wilpeis wild, and G. & OHG. wild game, deer; of uncertain origin.]

1. Living in a state of nature; inhabiting natural haunts, as the forest or open field; not familiar with, or not easily approached by, man; not tamed or domesticated; as, a wild boar; a wild ox; a wild cat .

Winter's not gone yet, if the wild geese fly that way. Shak.

2. Growing or produced without culture; growing or prepared without the aid and care of man; native; not cultivated; brought forth by unassisted nature or by animals not domesticated; as, wild parsnip, wild camomile, wild strawberry, wild honey .

The woods and desert caves, With wild thyme and gadding vine o'ergrown. Milton.

3. Desert; not inhabited or cultivated; as, wild land . "To trace the forests wild ."

Shak.

4. Savage; uncivilized; not refined by culture; ferocious; rude; as, wild natives of Africa or America .

5. Not submitted to restraint, training, or regulation; turbulent; tempestuous; violent; ungoverned; licentious; inordinate; disorderly; irregular; fanciful; imaginary; visionary; crazy. "Valor grown wild by pride." Prior . "A wild , speculative project." Swift .

What are these So withered and so wild in their attire ? Shak.

With mountains, as with weapons, armed; which makes Wild work in heaven. Milton.

The wild winds howl. Addison.

Search then the ruling passion, there, alone The wild are constant, and the cunning known. Pope.

6. Exposed to the wind and sea; unsheltered; as, a wild roadstead .

7. Indicating strong emotion, intense excitement, or <?/ewilderment; as, a wild look .

8. (Naut.) Hard to steer; -- said of a vessel.

&hand; Many plants are named by prefixing wild to the names of other better known or cultivated plants to which they a bear a real or fancied resemblance; as, wild allspice, wild pink, etc. See the Phrases below.

<page="1653"> Page 1653

To run wild , to go unrestrained or untamed; to live or untamed; to live or grow without culture or training. -- To sow one's wild oats . See under Oat .

Wild allspice . (Bot.) , spicewood. -- Wild balsam apple (Bot.) , an American climbing cucurbitaceous plant ( Echinocystis lobata ). -- Wild basil (Bot.) , a fragrant labiate herb ( Calamintha Clinopodium ) common in Europe and America. -- Wild bean (Bot.) , a name of several leguminous plants, mostly species of Phaseolus and Apios . -- Wild bee (Zo\'94l.) , any one of numerous species of undomesticated social bees, especially the domestic bee when it has escaped from domestication and built its nest in a hollow tree or among rocks. -- Wild bergamot . (Bot.) See under Bergamot . -- Wild boar (Zo\'94l.) , the European wild hog ( Sus scrofa ), from which the common domesticated swine is descended. -- Wild brier (Bot.) , any uncultivated species of brier. See Brier . -- Wild bugloss (Bot.) , an annual rough-leaved plant ( Lycopsis arvensis ) with small blue flowers. -- Wild camomile (Bot.) , one or more plants of the composite genus Matricaria , much resembling camomile. -- Wild cat . (Zo\'94l.) (a) A European carnivore ( Felis catus ) somewhat resembling the domestic cat, but larger stronger, and having a short tail. It is destructive to the smaller domestic animals, such as lambs, kids, poultry, and the like. (b) The common American lynx, or bay lynx. (c) (Naut.) A wheel which can be adjusted so as to revolve either with, or on, the shaft of a capstan. Luce . -- Wild celery . (Bot.) See Tape grass , under Tape . -- Wild cherry . (Bot.) (a) Any uncultivated tree which bears cherries. The wild red cherry is Prunus Pennsylvanica . The wild black cherry is P. serotina , the wood of which is much used for cabinetwork, being of a light red color and a compact texture. (b) The fruit of various species of Prunus . -- Wild cinnamon . See the Note under Canella . -- Wild comfrey (Bot.) , an American plant ( Cynoglossum Virginicum ) of the Borage family. It has large bristly leaves and small blue flowers. -- Wild cumin (Bot.) , an annual umbelliferous plant ( Lag&oe;cia cuminoides ) native in the countries about the Mediterranean. -- Wild drake (Zo\'94l.) the mallard. -- Wild elder (Bot.) , an American plant ( Aralia hispida ) of the Ginseng family. -- Wild fowl (Zo\'94l.) any wild bird, especially any of those considered as game birds. -- Wild goose (Zo\'94l.) , any one of several species of undomesticated geese, especially the Canada goose ( Branta Canadensis ), the European bean goose, and the graylag. See Graylag , and Bean goose , under Bean . -- Wild goose chase , the pursuit of something unattainable, or of something as unlikely to be caught as the wild goose. Shak . -- Wild honey , honey made by wild bees, and deposited in trees, rocks, the like. -- Wild hyacinth . (Bot.) See Hyacinth , 1 (b) . Wild Irishman (Bot.) , a thorny bush ( Discaria Toumatou ) of the Buckthorn family, found in New Zealand, where the natives use the spines in tattooing. -- Wild land . (a) Land not cultivated, or in a state that renders it unfit for cultivation. (b) Land which is not settled and cultivated. -- Wild licorice . (Bot.) See under Licorice . -- Wild mammee (Bot.) , the oblong, yellowish, acid fruit of a tropical American tree ( Rheedia lateriflora ); -- so called in the West Indies. -- Wild marjoram (Bot.) , a labiate plant ( Origanum vulgare ) much like the sweet marjoram, but less aromatic. -- Wild oat . (Bot.) (a) A tall, oatlike kind of soft grass ( Arrhenatherum avenaceum ). (b) See Wild oats , under Oat . -- Wild pieplant (Bot.) , a species of dock ( Rumex hymenosepalus ) found from Texas to California. Its acid, juicy stems are used as a substitute for the garden rhubarb. -- Wild pigeon . (Zo\'94l.) (a) The rock dove. (b) The passenger pigeon. -- Wild pink (Bot.) , an American plant ( Silene Pennsylvanica ) with pale, pinkish flowers; a kind of catchfly. -- Wild plantain (Bot.) , an arborescent endogenous herb ( Heliconia Bihai ), much resembling the banana. Its leaves and leaf sheaths are much used in the West Indies as coverings for packages of merchandise. -- Wild plum . (Bot.) (a) Any kind of plum growing without cultivation. (b) The South African prune. See under Prune . -- Wild rice . (Bot.) See Indian rice , under Rice . -- Wild rosemary (Bot.) , the evergreen shrub Andromeda polifolia . See Marsh rosemary , under Rosemary . -- Wild sage . (Bot.) See Sagebrush . -- Wild sarsaparilla (Bot.) , a species of ginseng ( Aralia nudicaulis ) bearing a single long-stalked leaf. -- Wild sensitive plant (Bot.) , either one of two annual leguminous herbs ( Cassia Cham\'91crista , and C. nictitans ), in both of which the leaflets close quickly when the plant is disturbed. -- Wild service . (Bot.) See Sorb . -- Wild Spaniard (Bot.) , any one of several umbelliferous plants of the genus Aciphylla , natives of New Zealand. The leaves bear numerous bayonetlike spines, and the plants form an impenetrable thicket. -- Wild turkey . (Zo\'94l.) See 2d Turkey .

Wild <Xpage=1653>

Wild (?) , n. An uninhabited and uncultivated tract or region; a forest or desert; a wilderness; a waste; as, the wilds of America; the wilds of Africa .

then Libya first, of all her moisture drained, Became a barren waste, a wild of sand. Addison.

Wild <Xpage=1653>

Wild , adv. Wildly; as, to talk wild .

Shak.

Wild-cat <Xpage=1653>

Wild"-cat` (?) , a. 1. Unsound; worthless; irresponsible; unsafe; -- said to have been originally applied to the notes of an insolvent bank in Michigan upon which there was the figure of a panther.

2. (Railroad) Running without control; running along the line without a train; as, a wild-cat locomotive .