Widegap - Wild

Prev Next
[ Webster]

Wide-awake (wīdȧwāk), a. Fully awake; not drowsy or dull; hence, knowing; keen; alert. Dickens.
[ Webster]

Wide-awake, n. A broad-brimmed, low-crowned felt hat.
[ Webster]

Widegap (?), n. (Zoöl.) The angler; -- called also widegab, and widegut.
[ Webster]

Widely, adv. 1. In a wide manner; to a wide degree or extent; far; extensively; as, the gospel was widely disseminated by the apostles.
[ Webster]

2. Very much; to a great degree or extent; as, to differ widely in opinion.
[ Webster]

Widen (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Widened (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Widening.] To make wide or wider; to extend in breadth; to increase the width of; as, to widen a field; to widen a breach; to widen a stocking.
[ Webster]

Widen, v. i. To grow wide or wider; to enlarge; to spread; to extend.
[ Webster]

Arches widen, and long aisles extend. Pope.
[ Webster]

Wideness (?), n. 1. The quality or state of being wide; breadth; width; great extent from side to side; as, the wideness of a room. “I landed in a small creek about the wideness of my canoe.” Swift.
[ Webster]

2. Large extent in all directions; broadness; greatness; as, the wideness of the sea or ocean.
[ Webster]

Widespread (?), a. Spread to a great distance; widely extended; extending far and wide; as, widespread wings; a widespread movement.
[ Webster]

Widewhere (?), adv. [See , and .] Widely; far and wide. [Obs.] Chaucer.
[ Webster]

Widgeon (?), n. [Probably from an old French form of F. vigeon, vingeon, gingeon; of uncertain origin; cf. L. vipio, -onis, a kind of small crane.] (Zoöl.) Any one of several species of fresh-water ducks, especially those belonging to the subgenus Mareca, of the genus Anas. The common European widgeon (Anas penelope) and the American widgeon (Anas Americana) are the most important species. The latter is called also baldhead, baldpate, baldface, baldcrown, smoking duck, wheat, duck, and whitebelly.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Bald-faced widgeon , or Coloq. Green-headed widgeon , the American widgeon. -- Coloq. Black widgeon , the European tufted duck. -- Coloq. Gray widgeon . (a) The gadwall. (b) The pintail duck. -- Coloq. Great headed widgeon , the poachard. -- Coloq. Pied widgeon . (a) The poachard. (b) The goosander. -- Coloq. Saw-billed widgeon , the merganser. -- Coloq. Sea widgeon . See in the Vocabulary. -- Coloq. Spear widgeon , the goosander. [Prov. Eng.] -- Coloq. Spoonbilled widgeon , the shoveler. -- Coloq. White widgeon , the smew. -- Coloq. Wood widgeon , the wood duck.
[ Webster]

Widish (?), a. Moderately wide. Tyndall.
[ Webster]

Widmanstätten figures (?). (Min.) Certain figures appearing on etched meteoric iron; -- so called after A. B. Widmanstätten, of Vienna, who first described them in 1808. See the Note and Illust. under .
[ Webster]

Widow (wĭd�), n. [OE. widewe, widwe, AS. weoduwe, widuwe, wuduwe; akin to OFries. widwe, OS. widowa, D. weduwe, G. wittwe, witwe, OHG. wituwa, witawa, Goth. widuwō, Russ. udova, OIr. fedb, W. gweddw, L. vidua, Skr. vidhavā; and probably to Skr. vidh to be empty, to lack; cf. Gr. hiqeos a bachelor. √248. Cf. .] A woman who has lost her husband by death, and has not married again; one living bereaved of a husband. “A poor widow.” Chaucer.
[ Webster]

2. (Card Playing) In various games (such as “hearts”), any extra hand or part of a hand, as one dealt to the table. It may be taken by one of the players under certain circumstances.
[Webster Suppl.]

Coloq. Grass widow . See under . -- Coloq. Widow bewitched , a woman separated from her husband; a grass widow. [Colloq.] -- Coloq. Widow-in-mourning (Zoöl.), the macavahu. -- Coloq. Widow monkey (Zoöl.), a small South American monkey (Callithrix lugens); -- so called on account of its color, which is black except the dull whitish arms, neck, and face, and a ring of pure white around the face. -- Coloq. Widow's chamber (Eng. Law), in London, the apparel and furniture of the bedchamber of the widow of a freeman, to which she was formerly entitled.
[ Webster]

Widow, a. Widowed. “A widow woman.” 1 Kings xvii. 9. “This widow lady.” Shak.
[ Webster]

Widow, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Widowed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Widowing.]
[ Webster]

1. To reduce to the condition of a widow; to bereave of a husband; -- rarely used except in the past participle.
[ Webster]

Though in thus city he
Hath widowed and unchilded many a one,
Which to this hour bewail the injury. Shak.
[ Webster]

2. To deprive of one who is loved; to strip of anything beloved or highly esteemed; to make desolate or bare; to bereave.
[ Webster]

The widowed isle, in mourning,
Dries up her tears. Dryden.
[ Webster]

Tress of their shriveled fruits
Are widowed, dreary storms o'er all prevail. J. Philips.
[ Webster]

Mourn, widowed queen; forgotten Sion, mourn. Heber.
[ Webster]

3. To endow with a widow's right. [R.] Shak.
[ Webster]

4. To become, or survive as, the widow of. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Let me be married to three kings in a forenoon, and widow
them all. Shak.
[ Webster]

Widow bird (?). (Zoöl.) See .
[ Webster]

Widower (?), n. A man who has lost his wife by death, and has not married again. Shak.
[ Webster]

Widowerhood (?), n. The state of being a widower.
[ Webster]

Widowhood (?), n. 1. The state of being a widow; the time during which a woman is widow; also, rarely, the state of being a widower.
[ Webster]

Johnson clung to her memory during a widowhood of more than thirty years. Leslie Stephen.
[ Webster]

2. Estate settled on a widow. [Obs.] “I 'll assure her of her widowhood . . . in all my lands.” Shak.
[ Webster]

Widow-hunter (?), n. One who courts widows, seeking to marry one with a fortune. Addison.
[ Webster]

Widowly, a. Becoming or like a widow.
[ Webster]

Widow-maker (?), n. One who makes widows by destroying husbands. [R.] Shak.
[ Webster]

Widow-wail (?), n. (Bot.) A low, narrowleaved evergreen shrub (Cneorum tricoccon) found in Southern Europe.
[ Webster]

Width (?), n. [From .] The quality of being wide; extent from side to side; breadth; wideness; as, the width of cloth; the width of a door.
[ Webster]

Widual (?), a. Of or pertaining to a widow; vidual. [Obs.] Bale.
[ Webster]

Widwe (?), n. A widow. [Obs.] Chaucer.
[ Webster]

Wield (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Wielded; p. pr. & vb. n. Wielding.] [OE. welden to govern, to have power over, to possess, AS. geweldan, gewyldan, from wealdan; akin to OS. waldan, OFries. walda, G. walten, OHG. waltan, Icel. valda, Sw. vålla to occasion, to cause, Dan. volde, Goth. waldan to govern, rule, L. valere to be strong. Cf. , .]
[ Webster]

1. To govern; to rule; to keep, or have in charge; also, to possess. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

When a strong armed man keepeth his house, all things that he wieldeth ben in peace. Wyclif (Luke xi. 21).
[ Webster]

Wile [ne will] ye wield gold neither silver ne money in your girdles. Wyclif (Matt. x. 9.)
[ Webster]

2. To direct or regulate by influence or authority; to manage; to control; to sway.
[ Webster]

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

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

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.
[ Webster]

Base Hungarian wight! wilt thou the spigot wield! Shak.
[ Webster]

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

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

Coloq. To wield the scepter , to govern with supreme command.
[ Webster]

Wieldable (?), a. Capable of being wielded.
[ Webster]

Wieldance (?), n. The act or power of wielding. [Obs.] “Our weak wieldance.” Bp. Hall.
[ Webster]

Wielder (?), n. One who wields or employs; a manager; a controller.
[ Webster]

A wielder of the great arm of the war. Milton.
[ Webster]

Wielding, n. Power; authority; rule. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

To have them in your might and in your wielding. Chaucer.
[ Webster]

Wieldless, a. Not to be wielded; unmanageable; unwieldy. [R.] “Wieldless might.” Spenser.
[ Webster]

Wieldsome (?), a. Admitting of being easily wielded or managed. [Obs.] Golding.
[ Webster]

Wieldy (?), a. Capable of being wielded; manageable; wieldable; -- opposed to unwieldy. [R.] Johnson.
[ Webster]

Wiener Schnitzel (?). [G., Vienna cutlet.] A veal cutlet variously seasoned garnished, often with lemon, sardines, and capers.
[Webster Suppl.]

Wier (?), n. Same as .
[ Webster]

Wierangle (?), n. (Zoöl.) Same as . [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
[ Webster]

Wiery (?), a. [Cf. .] Wet; moist; marshy. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Wiery (?), a. [From ; cf. .] Wiry. [Obs.] “Wiery gold.” Peacham.
[ Webster]

Wife (?), n.; pl. Wives (#). [OE. wif, AS. wif; akin to OFries. & OS. wif, D. wijf, G. weib, OHG. wīb, Icel. vīf, 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. a jade, .]
[ Webster]

1. A woman; an adult female; -- now used in literature only in certain compounds and phrases, as alewife, fishwife, goodwife, and the like. “ Both men and wives.” Piers Plowman.
[ Webster]

On the green he saw sitting a wife. Chaucer.
[ Webster]

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.
[ Webster]

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

Coloq. To give to wife , Coloq. To take to wife , to give or take (a woman) in marriage. -- Coloq. 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.
[ Webster]

Wifehood (?), n. [AS. wifhād.]
[ Webster]

1. Womanhood. [Obs.] Chaucer.
[ Webster]

2. The state of being a wife; the character of a wife.
[ Webster]

Wifeless, a. Without a wife; unmarried. Chaucer.
[ Webster]

Wifelike (?), a. Of, pertaining to, or like, a wife or a woman. “ Wifelike government.” Shak.
[ Webster]

Wifely, a. [AS. wīflic.] Becoming or life; of or pertaining to a wife. “Wifely patience.” Chaucer.
[ Webster]

With all the tenderness of wifely love. Dryden.
[ Webster]

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

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.
[ Webster]

2. An old seal; -- so called by fishermen.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Wig tree . (Bot.) See Smoke tree, under .
[ Webster]

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

Wigan (?), 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.
[ Webster]

Wigeon (?), n. (Zoöl.) A widgeon. [R.]
[ Webster]

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

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

Wiggery (?), n. 1. A wig or wigs; false hair. [R.] A. Trollope.
[ Webster]

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

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

Wiggle (?), v. t. & i. [Cf. , v. t., .] 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.]
[ Webster]

Wiggle, n. Act of wiggling; a wriggle. [Colloq.]
[ Webster]

Wiggler (?), n. (Zoöl.) The young, either larva or pupa, of the mosquito; -- called also wiggletail.
[ Webster]

Wigher (?), v. i. [Cf. G. wiehern, E. whine.] To neigh; to whinny. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
[ Webster]

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

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. vætt� a wight, vætt� a whit, Goth. waíhts, waíht, thing; cf. Russ. veshche a thing. �. Cf. .]
[ Webster]

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

She was fallen asleep a little wight. Chaucer.
[ Webster]

2. A supernatural being. [Obs.] Chaucer.
[ Webster]

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.
[ Webster]

Every wight that hath discretion. Chaucer.
[ Webster]

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

Wight, a. [OE. wight, wiht, probably of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. vīgr in fighting condition, neut. vīgh ��� vīg war, akin to AS. wīg See .] Swift; nimble; agile; strong and active. [Obs. or Poetic]
[ Webster]

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

He was so wimble and so wight. Spenser.
[ Webster]

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

Wightly, adv. Swiftly; nimbly; quickly. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Wigless (?), a. Having or wearing no wig.
[ Webster]

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

Wigwag (?), v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Wigwagged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Wigwagging (?).] To move to and fro, to wag.
[Webster Suppl.]

Wigwag, n. [See , v. t. & i.] Act or art of wigwagging; a message wigwagged; -- chiefly attributive; as, the wigwag code. -- Wigwager (#), n.
[Webster Suppl.]

Wigwam (?), n. [From the Algonquin or Massachusetts Indian word wēk, “his house,” or “dwelling place;” with possessive and locative affixes, wē-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.]
[ Webster]

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

☞ “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.
[ Webster]

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.]
[ Webster]

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

Wikiup (?), n. [Of North American Indian origin; cf. Dakota wakeya, wokeya.] The hut used by the nomadic Indian tribes of the arid regions of the west and southwest United States, typically elliptical in form, with a rough frame covered with reed mats or grass or brushwood.
[Webster Suppl.]

Wikke (?), a. Wicked. [Obs.] Chaucer.
[ Webster]

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.]
[ Webster]

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.
[ Webster]

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

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.
[ Webster]

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

3. Desert; not inhabited or cultivated; as, wild land. “To trace the forests wild.” Shak.
[ Webster]

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

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.
[ Webster]

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

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

The wild winds howl. Addison.
[ Webster]

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

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

7. Indicating strong emotion, intense excitement, or �ewilderment; as, a wild look.
[ Webster]

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

☞ 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.
[ Webster]

Prev Next

Concept Explore Home

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z