voyage (voi´ij) •n. 1 a relatively long journey or passage by water or, formerly, by land 2 a journey by aircraft or spacecraft 3 a written account of a voyage •vi. -aged, -ag·ing to make a voyage; travel •vt. to sail or travel over or on SYN. TRIP voy´ag·er •n. [ME viage < OFr veiage, voyage < LL viaticum, a journey < L, traveling money, provision for a journey < viaticus, of a journey < via, way, journey: see VIA]

voyageur (vwå yå zhëř´) pl. -geurs´ (-zhëř´) •n. in Canada, a) a person who transported goods and men by boat to trading posts for the fur companies b) any woodsman or boatman of the Canadian wilds [Fr, traveler]

Voyageurs National Park (voi´э jørz') national park in a lake region of northernmost Minn., on the border of Ontario, Canada: 343 sq. mi. (888 sq. km) [after prec.]

voyeur (voi ør´, vwä yør´) •n. a person who is sexually gratified by viewing, esp. furtively and habitually, persons who are disrobing, engaged in sexual activity, etc.; peeping Tom voy·eur´ism' •n. voy'eur·is´tic •adj. [Fr < voir, to see < L videre: see VISION]

VP Vice-President

vroom (vru:m) •n. any of the sounds made by a motor vehicle in accelerating •vi. [Colloq.] to make, or move off with, such sounds [echoic]

VS or V.S. Veterinary Surgeon

vs. or vs versus

vt transitive verb VT 1 variable time 2 Vermont: also Vt

VTOL (vi:´töl') •n. an aircraft, usually other than a helicopter, that can take off and land vertically [v(ertical) t(ake)o(ff and) l(anding)]

VTR video tape recorder

VU or vu volume unit

vug, vugh, or vugg (vûg, vug) •n. Mining a cavity or hollow in a rock or lode, often lined with crystals vug´gy, -gi·er, -gi·est, •adj. [Corn vooga, a cave]

Vuillard (vüi: yåř´), (Jean) É·douard (ei dwåř´) 1868-1940; Fr. painter

Vulcan (vûl´kэn) Rom. Myth. the god of fire and of metalworking: later identified with the Greek Hephaestus [L Vulcanus, Volcanus]

Vulcanian (vûl kei´ni: эn) •adj. 1 of, characteristic of, associated with, or made by, Vulcan 2 [v-] having to do with metalworking 3 [v-] Geol. a) VOLCANIC b) of or pertaining to a volcanic explosion emitting a large cloud of gases bearing fine ash and a mass of viscous lava that hardens in the air [L Vulcanius, of Vulcan]

vulcanism (vûl´kэn iz'эm) •n. [Archaic] VOLCANISM

vulcanization (vûl'kэn i zei´shэn) •n. 1 the process of treating crude rubber with sulfur or its compounds and subjecting it to heat in order to make it nonplastic and increase its strength and elasticity 2 a process somewhat like this, for hardening some substance [< fol. + -ATION]

vulcanize (vûl´kэn aiz') -ized', -iz'ing •vt. to subject to vulcanization •vi. to undergo vulcanization vul´can·iz'er •n. [VULCAN + -IZE]

vulcanology (vûl'kэn äl´э ji:) •n. [Archaic] VOLCANOLOGY

Vulg Vulgate

vulgar (vûl´gэr) •adj. 1 of, characteristic of, belonging to, or common to the great mass of people in general; common; popular {a vulgar superstition} 2 designating, of, or in the popular, or vernacular, speech 3 a) characterized by a lack of culture, refinement, taste, restraint, sensitivity, etc.; coarse; crude; boorish b) indecent or obscene SYN. COARSE, COMMON vul´gar·ly •adv. [ME < L vularis < vulgus, volgus, the common people < IE base *wel-, to crowd, throng > Gr eilein, to press, swarm]

vulgar fraction COMMON FRACTION

Vulgar Latin the everyday speech of the Roman people, from which the Romance languages developed; popular Latin as distinguished from standard or literary Latin

vulgarian (vûl ger´i: эn, -gær´-) •n. a vulgar person; esp., a rich person with coarse, ostentatious manners or tastes

vulgarism (vûl´gэr iz'эm) •n. 1 a word, phrase, or expression that is used widely but is regarded as nonstandard, unrefined, coarse, or obscene 2 vulgar behavior, quality, etc.; vulgarity

vulgarity (vûl ger´э ti:, -gær´-) •n. 1 the state or quality of being vulgar, crude, coarse, unrefined, etc. 2 pl. -ties a vulgar act, habit, usage in speech, etc. [LL vulgaritas]

vulgarization (vûl'gэr i zei´shэn) •n. 1 the act or an instance of making something, as abstruse or highly technical information, more readily intelligible or widely known 2 the act or an instance of making vulgar, coarse, unrefined, obscene, etc.

vulgarize (vûl´gэr aiz') -ized', -iz'ing •vt. 1 to cause to be more widely known, more easily understood, etc.; popularize 2 to make vulgar, coarse, unrefined, obscene, etc. vul´gar·iz'er •n.

Vulgate (vûl´geit', -git) a Latin version of the Bible prepared by St. Jerome in the 4th cent., authorized as the official biblical text of the Roman Catholic Church •n. [v-] 1 any text or version in common acceptance 2 the vernacular, or common speech •adj. 1 of or in the Vulgate 2 [v-] commonly accepted; popular; specif., of or in the vernacular, or common speech [ML vulgata (editio), popular (edition) < L vulgatus, common, usual, orig. pp. of vulgare, to make common < vulgus: see VULGAR]

vulnerable (vûl´nэr э bэl) •adj. 1 that can be wounded or physically injured 2 a) open to criticism or attack {a vulnerable reputation} b) easily hurt, as by adverse criticism; sensitive c) affected by a specified influence, temptation, etc. {vulnerable to political pressure} 3 open to attack by armed forces 4 Bridge liable to increased penalties and entitled to increased bonuses: said of a team which has won one game vul'ner·a·bil´i·ty •n. vul´ner·a·bly •adv. [LL vulnerabilis, wounding, likely to injure (also, in pass. sense, vulnerable) < L vulnerare, to wound < vulnus (gen. vulneris), a wound < IE base *wel- > L vellere: see REVULSION]

vulnerary (vûl´nэr er'i:) •adj. used for healing wounds •n. pl. -ar'ies any vulnerary drug, plant, etc. [L vulnerarius < vulnus, a wound: see VULNERABLE]

Vulpecula (vûl pek´yu: lэ) a N constellation in the Milky Way between Delphinus and Cygnus

vulpine (vûl´pain, -pin) •adj. 1 of or like a fox or foxes 2 clever, cunning, etc. [L vulpinus, foxlike < vulpes, a fox]

vulture (vûl´chэr) •n. 1 any of a number of large birds of prey with a naked, usually brightly colored head and dark plumage, including the Old World vultures (family Accipitridae) and the New World vultures (family Cathartidae); esp., the New World turkey vulture: they feed chiefly or entirely on carrion and are found in tropical and temperate regions 2 any greedy and ruthless person who preys on others [ME vultur < L, akin to vellere, to tear: see VULNERABLE]

vulturine (-chэr ain', -in) •adj. of, characteristic of, or like a vulture or vultures; voracious [L vulturinus < vultur: see VULTURE]

vulturous (-эs) •adj. like a vulture; voracious; greedy

vulva (vûl´vэ) pl. -vae (-vi:) •n.or -vas the external genital organs of the female, including the labia majora, labia minora, clitoris, and the entrance to the vagina vul´val or vul´var •adj. vul´vate (-veit, -vit) •adj. [ModL < L vulva, volva, wrapper, covering, womb < volvere, to roll or turn about: see WALK]

vulviform (-vэ förm') •adj. like a vulva in form

vulvitis (vûl vait´is) •n. inflammation of the vulva

vulvo- (vûl´vou, -vэ) combining form 1 vulva 2 vulva and {vulvovaginitis} Also, before a vowel, vulv- [< L vulva]

vulvovaginitis (vûl'vou væj'э nait´is) •n. inflammation of the vulva and the vagina [< prec. + VAGINITIS]

vv 1 verses 2 vice versa: also v.v. 3 violins

VX (gas) (vi:´eks´) a highly lethal nerve gas, C11H26NO2PS, absorbed through the skin and lungs

Vyborg (vi:´börg) seaport in NW European Russia, on the Gulf of Finland: pop. 65,000

Vycor (vai´kör´) trademark for a heat-resistant glassware with a high percentage of silica, used mainly for laboratory and industrial beakers, crucibles, tubes, etc. [arbitrary coinage]

vying (vai´iŋ) •adj. that vies; that competes [prp. of VIE]

w abbrev. 1 waist 2 watt(s) 3 week(s) 4 weight 5 west 6 western 7 wide 8 width 9 wife 10 with 11 win(s) 12 Physics work W abbrev. 1 Chem. symbol for tungsten [W(OLFRAM)] 2 Wales 3 Washington 4 watt(s) 5 Wednesday 6 Welsh 7 West 8 west 9 western 10 win(s)

w or W (dûb´эl yu:', -yэ) pl. w's, W's •n. 1 the twenty-third letter of the English alphabet: its sound was represented in Anglo-Saxon manuscripts by uu or u until about 900 A.D., then by þ (wen) borrowed from the runic alphabet; in the 11th cent. a ligatured VV or vv was introduced by Norman scribes to replace the wen 2 any of the speech sounds that this letter represents, as, in English, the (w) in will 3 a type or impression for W or w 4 the twenty-third in a sequence or group 5 an object shaped like W •adj. 1 of W or w 2 twenty-third in a sequence or group 3 shaped like W

W particle a massive, positively or negatively charged boson believed to mediate the weak interaction in the beta decay process [< weak]

w/o without

WA 1 Washington: also Wa 2 Western Australia

Waadt (vät) Ger. name of VAUD

Waal (väl) southernmost of two arms of the Rhine, flowing west through the Netherlands & joining the Meuse in the Rhine delta on the North Sea: c. 50 mi. (80 km)

Wabash (wö´bæsh') river flowing from W Ohio across Ind. into the Ohio River: 475 mi. (764 km) [Fr Ouabache, altered < Illinois ouabouskigou, of unknown meaning]

wabble (wä´bэl) -bled, -bling •n., vt., vi. alt. sp. of WOBBLE

Wac (wæk) •n. a member of the Women's Army Corps WAC Women's Army Corps

Wace (weis, wäs) fl. 12th cent.; Anglo-Norman poet & chronicler: also, prob. erroneously, called Robert Wace

wacko (wæk´ou) •adj. [Slang] var. of WACKY •n. pl. -os [Slang] a person who is wacko [see -O]

wacky (wæk´i:) wack´i·er, wack´i·est •adj. Æ [Slang] erratic, eccentric, or irrational wack´i·ly •adv. wack´i·ness •n. [< ? WHACK + -Y²: cf. SLAP-HAPPY]

Waco (wei´kou) city in EC Tex., on the Brazos River: pop. 104,000 [Sp Hueco < Wichita (a Caddoan language) we˙koh, name of a tribe later absorbed into the Wichita people]

wad¹ (wäd) •n. 1 a small, soft mass or ball, as a handful of cotton, crumpled paper, etc. 2 a lump or small, compact mass (of something) {a wad of chewing tobacco} 3 a mass of soft or fibrous material used for padding, packing, stuffing, etc. 4 a plug of hemp, tow, paper, etc. stuffed against a charge to keep it firmly in the breech of a muzzleloading gun or in a cartridge Æ 5 [Colloq.] a roll of paper money Æ 6 [Slang] a large amount, esp. of money •vt. wad´ded, wad´ding 1 to compress into a wad Æ 2 to roll up (paper, etc.) into a wad 3 a) to plug with a wad b) to force or stuff {to wad oakum into a crack} 4 to line or pad with or as with wadding 5 to hold (a charge) in place by a wad wad´der •n. [ML wadda, wadding < ?]

wad² (wäd; unstressed wэd) v. Scot. var. of WOULD

Waddenzee or Wadden Zee (väd´эn zei´) shallow section of the North Sea, in the Netherlands, between the West Frisian Islands & the IJsselmeer

wadding (wäd´iŋ) •n. 1 any soft or fibrous material for use in padding, packing, stuffing, etc.; esp., cotton made up into loose, fluffy sheets, or batting 2 any soft material for making wads, as for guns or cartridges 3 a wad, or wads collectively

waddle (wäd´эl) -dled, -dling •vi. 1 to walk with short steps, swaying from side to side, as a duck 2 to move clumsily with a motion like this; toddle •n. the act of waddling or a waddling gait wad´dler •n. [freq. of WADE]

waddy¹ (wäd´i:) pl. -dies •n. in Australia, a short, thick club used by Aborigines as a weapon •vt. -died, -dy·ing to strike or beat with a waddy [< the native name]

waddy² (wäd´i:) pl. -dies •n. [West] a cowboy [< ?]

wade (weid) wad´ed, wad´ing •vi. 1 to walk through any substance, as water, mud, snow, sand, tall grass, etc., that offers resistance 2 to walk about in shallow water, as for amusement 3 to go forward with effort or difficulty {to wade through a long report} Æ 4 [Colloq.] to move energetically into action; attack with vigor: with in or into 5 [Obs.] to go; proceed; pass •vt. to go across or through by wading {to wade a brook} •n. an act of wading [ME waden < OE, to go, akin to Ger waten, to wade < IE base *wādh-, to go, stride forward > L vadere, to go, vadare, to wade]

wader (weid´эr) •n. 1 a person or thing that wades 2 any bird that wades in marshes, lakes, etc. 3 a) [pl.] high waterproof boots Æ b) [usually pl.] waterproof trousers with bootlike parts for the feet, worn as by fishermen for wading in deep water

wadi (wä´di:) pl. -dis or -dies in Arabia, N Africa, etc., a) a valley, ravine, or watercourse that is dry except during the rainy season b) the stream or rush of water that flows through it Also sp. wa´dy, pl. -dies •n. [Ar wādī, channel of a river, a river, ravine, valley]

wading bird any of various long-legged birds that wade the shallows and marshes for food, esp., any of an order (Ciconiiformes) including the herons, storks, and ibises

wading pool a shallow pool of water, esp. a small, portable unit in which small children can wade and play

wae (wei) •n. [Scot.] woe or sorrow

waesucks (wei´sûks') •interj. [Scot.] alas! [Scot wae, woe + sucks, sakes: see SAKE¹]

Waf (wæf) •n. a member of the WAF WAF Women in the Air Force

wafer (wei´fэr) •n. 1 a) a thin, flat, crisp cracker or cookie b) anything resembling this, as a thin, flat disk of candy 2 a piece of Eucharistic bread, specif., a thin, flat, white, typically round and unleavened piece of such bread, made from wheat 3 a small adhesive disk, as of paper, dried paste, gelatin, etc., used as a seal on letters, documents, etc. 4 a thin piece of a semiconductor on which integrated circuits are formed, as to create chips •vt. to seal, close, or attach, or fasten with a wafer or wafers [ME wafre < NormFr waufre < MDu wafel, wafer, WAFFLE¹]

waff¹ (wæf, wäf) •n. [Scot. or North Eng.] 1 a wave, or waving motion, as in signaling 2 a puff or gust, as of air 3 a glimpse 4 a ghost [var. of WAVE]

waff² (wæf, wäf) •adj. [Scot.] worthless [var. of WAIF]

waffle iron a metal utensil for cooking waffles, having two flat, studded plates, now usually heated electrically, pressed together so that the waffle bakes between them [transl. of Du wafelijzer]

waffle¹ (wä´fэl) •n. a batter cake like a pancake but crisper, baked in a waffle iron, which gives it a gridlike surface •adj. having a surface like that of a waffle: also waf´fled [Du wafel, akin to OHG waba, honeycomb, OE wefan, to WEAVE]

waffle² (wä´fэl) -fled, -fling •vi. to speak or write in a wordy, vague, or indecisive manner •n. [Chiefly Brit.] wordy, vague, or indecisive talk or writing [orig., to yelp < echoic waff, to yelp]

waft (wäft, wæft) •vt. 1 a) to carry or propel (objects, sounds, odors, etc.) lightly through the air or over water b) to transport as if in this manner 2 [Obs.] to beckon or signal to, as by a wave of the hand [altered < WAFF¹] •vi. 1 to float, as on the wind 2 to blow gently: said of breezes •n. 1 the act or fact of floating or being carried lightly along 2 an odor, sound, etc. carried through the air 3 a breath or gust of wind 4 a wave, waving, or wafting movement 5 [Now Rare] Naut. a signal flag or pennant, or a signal made by a flag or pennant, usually rolled or furled [back-form. < obs. wafter, convoy < LME waughter < Du wachter, lit., a watcher < wachten, to watch: for IE base see WAKE¹]

waftage (-ij) •n. [Archaic] a wafting or being wafted; conveyance

wafter (-эr) •n. a person or thing that wafts; esp., a blower fan

wafture (wäf´chэr, wæf´-) •n. the act of waving or wafting

wag¹ (wæg) wagged, wag´ging •vt. 1 a) to cause (something fastened or held at one end) to move rapidly and repeatedly back and forth, from side to side, or up and down {the dog wagged his tail} b) to shake (a finger) or nod (the head), as in summoning, reproving, etc. 2 to move (the tongue) in talking, esp. in idle or malicious gossip •vi. 1 to move rapidly and repeatedly back and forth, from side to side, or up and down, as a part of the body 2 to keep moving in talk, esp. in idle or malicious gossip: said of the tongue 3 to walk or move with a swaying motion; waddle •n. the act or an instance of wagging wag´ger •n. [ME waggen, prob. < ON vaga, to move back and forth, rock, akin to OE wagian, to shake, totter < IE base *weGh-, to move > L vehere, to carry]

wag² (wæg) •n. a comical or humorous person; joker; wit [prob. short for obs. waghalter, a gallows bird, applied to a joker, rogue (< ? WAG¹ + HALTER¹)]

wage (weij) waged, wag´ing •vt. 1 to engage in or carry on (a war, struggle, campaign, etc.) 2 [Dial., Chiefly Brit.] to hire •n. 1 [often pl.] money paid to an employee for work done, and usually figured on an hourly, daily, or piecework basis 2 [usually pl.] what is given in return; recompense; requital: formerly the plural form was often construed as singular {The wages of sin is death} 3 [pl.] Econ. the share of the total product of industry that goes to labor, as distinguished from the share taken by capital SYN.—wage (also often wages) applies to money paid an employee at relatively short intervals, often daily, or weekly, esp. for manual or physical labor; salary applies to fixed compensation usually paid at longer intervals, often monthly or semimonthly, esp. to clerical or professional workers; stipend is a somewhat lofty substitute for salary, or it is applied to a pension or similar fixed payment; fee applies to the payment requested or given for professional services, as of a doctor, lawyer, artist, etc.; pay is a general term equivalent to any of the preceding, but it is specifically used of compensation to members of the armed forces; emolument is an elevated, now somewhat jocular, substitute for salary or wages [ME wagen < NormFr wagier (OFr gagier) < wage (OFr gage), a stake, pledge < Frank *wadi, akin to Goth wadi, a pledge: for IE base see WED]

wage earner a person who works for wages

wage scale 1 a schedule of wages paid for the performance of related jobs or tasks in a given industry, plant, locality, etc. 2 the schedule of wages paid by a given employer

wager (wei´jэr) •n. 1 BET¹ (n. 1 & 2) 2 [Archaic] a pledge to do something or abide by an outcome: esp. in wager of battle, a challenge by a defendant to prove his innocence by personal combat •vt., vi. BET¹ wa´ger·er •n. [ME < NormFr wageure < wagier: see WAGE]

wageworker (weij´wør'kэr) •n. WAGE EARNER

waggery (wæg´эr i:) pl. -ger·ies •n. 1 the action, spirit, or manner of a wag; roguish jocularity or merriment 2 a joke or jest; esp., a practical joke [< WAG² + -ERY]

waggish (wæg´ish) •adj. 1 like, characteristic of, or befitting a wag; roguishly merry 2 done, said, or made in jest; playful {a waggish remark} wag´gish·ly •adv. [< WAG² + -ISH]

waggle (wæg´эl) -gled, -gling •vt. to wag, esp. with short, quick movements •vi. to move in a shaky or wobbly manner; totter •n. the act or an instance of waggling wag´gly •adj. [freq. of WAG¹]

waggon (wæg´эn) •n., vt., vi. alt. Brit. sp. of WAGON

Wagner (väg´nэř), (Wilhelm) Rich·ard (řiH´äřt) 1813-83; Ger. composer

Wagnerian (väg nir´i: эn, -ner´-) •adj. 1 of or like Richard Wagner or his music, theories, methods, etc.: see also MUSIC DRAMA 2 designating or of an operatic singer specializing in Wagner's operas {a Wagnerian soprano} •n. an admirer or follower of Wagner's music, theories, etc.

wagon (wæg´эn) •n. 1 any of various types of four-wheeled vehicles; specif., a) a horse-drawn vehicle for hauling heavy loads b) a small cart pulled or steered by means of a pole handle and used by children in play Æ 2 short for: a) PATROL WAGON b) STATION WAGON 3 [Brit., etc. (exc. Cdn.)] a railroad freight car •vt., vi. to carry or transport (goods) by wagon; move or go in a wagon [W-] CHARLES'S WAIN Æ fix someone's wagon [Slang] to hurt someone in some way so as to get even with him hitch one's wagon to a star to aspire to lofty goals; aim high Æ on (or off) the wagon [Slang] no longer (or once again) drinking alcoholic liquors: also on (or off) the water wagon [Du wagen < PGmc *wagna-: see WAIN]

wagon train a line or convoy of wagons traveling together, as one carrying military supplies, or one in which pioneers crossed the Western plains

wagoner (-эr) •n. a person who drives a wagon [W-] AURIGA

wagonette (wæg'э net´) •n. a light, open, four-wheeled carriage with two seats set lengthwise facing each other behind the driver's seat [dim. of WAGON]

wagon-lit (vå gouñ li:´) pl. wa·gons-lits´ (-gouñ li:´) •n. in Europe, a railroad sleeping car [Fr < wagon, car, railway coach (< E WAGON) + lit, bed < L lectus: see LIE¹]

wagonload (wæg´эn loud') •n. the load that a wagon carries or will carry

Wagram (vä´gřäm') town in NE Austria, near Vienna: site (1809) of a Napoleonic victory over the Austrians

wagtail (wæg´teil') •n. 1 any of numerous small passerine birds (family Motacillidae) mostly native to Europe, characterized by long wing feathers and a very long tail that wags up and down Æ 2 any of various similar birds, as an American waterthrush

Wahhabi or Wahabi (wä hä´bi:) •n. any member of a strict Muslim sect which adheres closely to the Koran: it was founded by Abdul-Wahhab (c. 1703-c. 1792) and flourishes in Saudi Arabia Wah·ha´bism or Wa·ha´bism' (-biz'эm) •n. Wah·ha´bite' (-bait') •n., adj. [Ar wahhābī]

wahine (wä hi:´nei, -ni:) •n. a Polynesian woman, esp. of Hawaii [Haw or Maori, woman: for Proto-Polynesian form see VAHINE]

wahoo¹ (wä´hu:', wä hu:´) •n. 1 BURNING BUSH (sense 1) 2 STRAWBERRY BUSH [< Dakota wanhu, lit., arrowwood]

wahoo² (wä´hu:', wä hu:´) •n. 1 a cork elm (Ulmus alata) of the S U.S. 2 any of various other North American trees or shrubs, as the cascara [< ? Creek ahá˙hwa, walnut]

wahoo³ (wä´hu:', wä hu:´) pl. -hoo' •n.or -hoos' a large, scombroid game and food fish (Acanthocybium solanderi) of warm seas [< ?]

wahoo4 (wä hu:´, wä´hu:') •interj. [West] a shout expressing unrestrained enthusiasm, exhilaration, etc. [echoic of shout]

wah-wah (wä´wä´) •n. 1 Jazz an instrumental effect somewhat like that of the sound of a baby crying produced by closing and opening the bell of a trumpet, trombone, etc. with a plunger mute held in the hand 2 a similar effect created by an electronic device controlled by a foot pedal, that can be used with any musical instrument

waif (weif) •n. 1 anything found by chance that is without an owner 2 a person without home or friends; esp., a homeless child 3 a stray animal 4 WAFT (n. 5) 5 Law a) a piece of property found but claimed by nobody b) [pl.] [Obs.] stolen goods discarded by a thief in flight [ME < NormFr, prob. < ON veif, anything flapping about < veifa, to wave, swing < IE *weip-, to turn, var. of *weib- > L vibrare, to VIBRATE]

Waikiki (wai'ki: ki:´) beach and resort section in Honolulu, Hawaii [Haw < wai, water (< Proto-Polynesian *wai) + kīkī (< ?): said to mean, lit., spouting water]

wail (weil) •vi. 1 to express grief or pain by long, loud cries 2 to make a plaintive, sad, crying sound {the wind wailing in the trees} 3 [Slang] Jazz to play in an intense or inspired manner •vt. [Archaic] 1 to lament; mourn {to wail someone's death} 2 to cry out in mourning or lamentation •n. 1 a long, pitiful cry of grief and pain 2 a sound like this 3 the act of wailing SYN. CRY wail´er •n. [ME wailen < ON væla, to lament < væ, WOE]

wailful (-fэl) •adj. 1 wailing; sorrowful 2 like, or giving forth, a wail or cry of sorrow wail´ful·ly •adv.

Wailing Wall WESTERN WALL

wain (wein) •n. [Old Poet.] a wagon or cart the Wain CHARLES'S WAIN [ME < OE wægn, wheeled vehicle, akin to Du & Ger wagen < PGmc *wagna- < IE *woGhno- < base *weGh-, to move > L vehere, to carry]

wainscot (wein´skät', -skэt) •n. 1 a wood lining or paneling on the walls of a room; sometimes, specif., such a paneling on the lower part of the walls only 2 a) the lower part of the walls of a room when having a finish different from the upper b) any applied finish, as tile, linoleum, etc., on a wall 3 [Brit.] a fine imported oak used for interior paneling •vt. -scot'ed or -scot'ted, -scot'ing or -scot'ting to line (a wall, etc.) with wainscoting [ME waynescote < MDu wagenschot, wainscot, as if < wagen (see WAIN), but prob. < base akin to OS weg, OE wag, wall, orig. woven work (< IE base *wei- > WITHE) + schot, a board, pale, prob. < or akin to Frank *skot-, a sprout: for IE base see SHOOT]

wainscoting or wainscotting (-iŋ) •n. 1 WAINSCOT (n. 1 & 2) 2 material used to wainscot

wainwright (wein´rait') •n. a person who builds or repairs wagons [WAIN + WRIGHT]

waist (weist) •n. 1 the part of the body between the ribs and the hips 2 a) the part of a garment that covers the waist b) WAISTLINE (sense 2a) c) the part of a garment covering the body from the shoulders to a line above the hips d) the upper part of a woman's dress; bodice e) [Archaic] BLOUSE 3 the narrow part of any object that is wider at the ends {the waist of a violin} 4 Aeron. the middle section of the fuselage of an airplane, esp. a bomber 5 Naut. the central section of a ship; specif., the part of the deck between the forecastle and the quarterdeck 6 Zool. the narrow part of the front of the abdomen of certain insects, as ants or wasps [ME wast < base of OE weaxan, to grow, WAX²: sense development: growth (of body), hence size, thickness]

waistband (weist´bænd') •n. a band encircling the waist, esp. one at the top of a skirt, trousers, etc.

waistcloth (-klöθ') •n. LOINCLOTH

waistcoat (weist´kout', wes´kэt) •n. 1 [Brit., etc. (exc. Cdn.)] a) VEST (n. 1a) b) a similar garment worn by women 2 a somewhat longer, heavily ornamented sleeveless jacket formerly worn under a doublet waist´coat'ed •adj.

waist-high (weist´hai´) •adj. reaching up to the waist

waistline (-lain') •n. 1 the line of the waist, between the ribs and the hips 2 a) the narrow part of a woman's dress, etc. worn at the waist or above or below it as styles change b) the line where the waist and skirt of a dress join 3 the distance around the waist

wait (weit) •vi. 1 to stay in a place or remain in readiness or in anticipation (until something expected happens or for someone to arrive or catch up) 2 to be ready or at hand {dinner was waiting for them} 3 to remain temporarily undone or neglected {let that job wait} 4 to serve food at a meal: with at or on {to wait at table, to wait on a person} •vt. 1 to be, remain, or delay in expectation or anticipation of; await {to wait orders, to wait one's turn} 2 [Colloq.] to delay serving (a meal) as in waiting for someone {to wait dinner} 3 [Obs.] to attend upon or escort, esp. as a token of respect or honor 4 [Obs.] to attend as a consequence •n. 1 the act or fact of waiting 2 a period of waiting {a four-hour wait} 3 in England, a) any of a group of singers and musicians who go through the streets at Christmastime performing songs and carols for small gifts of money b) any tune so performed 4 [Obs.] a member of a band of musicians formerly employed by a city or town in England to play at entertainments 5 [Obs.] a watchman SYN. STAY³ lie in wait (for) to wait so as to catch after planning an ambush or trap (for) wait on (or upon) 1 to act as a servant to 2 to call on or visit (esp. a superior) in order to pay one's respects, ask a favor, etc. 3 to result from; be a consequence of 4 to supply the needs or requirements of (a person at table, a customer in a store, etc.), as a waiter, clerk, etc. 5 [Colloq. or Dial.] to wait for; await wait out to remain inactive during the course of wait table to serve food as a waiter or servant to people at a table wait up 1 to put off going to bed until someone expected arrives or something expected happens 2 [Colloq.] to stop and wait for someone to catch up [ME waiten < NormFr waitier < Frank *wahten, to guard, akin to OHG wahta, a guard, watch: for IE base see WAKE¹]

wait-a-bit (weit´э bit') •n. any of a number of plants having sharp or hooked thorns [transl. of Afrik wacht-en-beetje: so named for their clinging thorns]

Waite (weit), Mor·ri·son Rem·ick (mör´i sэn rem´ik) 1816-88; U.S. jurist: chief justice (1874-88)

waiter (weit´эr) •n. 1 a person who waits or awaits 2 a man who waits on tables, as in a restaurant 3 a tray for carrying dishes; salver [ME waitere, watchman]

waiting (-iŋ) •adj. 1 that waits 2 of or for a wait 3 that serves or is in attendance •n. 1 the act of one that waits 2 a period of waiting in waiting in attendance, as on a king or other person of royalty

waiting game a scheme by means of which one outwits or wins out over another by delaying or postponing action until one has an advantage

waiting list a list of applicants, as for a vacancy or an item in short supply, in the order of their application

waiting room a room in which people wait, as in a railroad station, a dentist's office, etc.

waitress (wei´tris) •n. a woman or girl who waits on tables, as in a restaurant Æ vi. to work as a waitress

waive (weiv) waived, waiv´ing •vt. 1 to give up or forgo (a right, claim, privilege, etc.) 2 to refrain from insisting on or taking advantage of 3 to put off until later; postpone; defer 4 Law to forgo or relinquish voluntarily (a right, privilege, claim, etc. which one is legally entitled to enforce) SYN. RELINQUISH [ME weiven < Anglo-Fr waiver, to renounce, abandon < ON veifa, to fluctuate: see WAIF]

waiver (wei´vэr) •n. Law 1 the act or an instance of waiving, or relinquishing voluntarily, a right, claim, privilege, etc. 2 a formal written statement of such relinquishment [substantive use of Anglo-Fr: see WAIVE]

Wakashan (wä kæsh´эn; also wä´kэ shæn') •n. a family of North American Indian languages of British Columbia and Washington, including Nootka and Kwakiutl

Wakayama (wä´kä yä´mä) seaport on the S coast of Honshu, Japan: pop. 403,000

Wake Island (weik) coral atoll in the N Pacific between Midway & Guam: a U.S. possession: 3 sq. mi. (7.7 sq. km); pop. 300

wake¹ (weik) woke or waked, waked or wok´en, wak´ing •vi. 1 to come out of sleep or a state like or suggestive of sleep, as a stupor, trance, etc.; awake: often with up 2 to be or stay awake 3 to become active or animated after inactivity or dormancy: often with up 4 to become alert (to a realization, possibility, etc.) 5 pt. & pp. waked [Chiefly Dial.] to keep watch or vigil; esp., to hold a wake over a corpse •vt. 1 to cause to wake from or as from sleep: often with up 2 to arouse, excite, or stir up (passions, etc.) or evoke (a sound, echo, etc.) 3 pt. & pp. waked [Chiefly Dial.] to keep watch or vigil over; esp., to hold a wake over (a corpse) •n. 1 [Now Rare] the state of being awake 2 a watch over or viewing of a corpse before burial, formerly often with festivities 3 Anglican Ch. an annual parish festival, orig. held in honor of a patron saint [ME wakien < OE wacian, to be awake & wacan, to arise, akin to Ger wachen < IE base *weG-, to be active > L vegere, to arouse, be active, Sans vāja-, strength, speed]

wake² (weik) •n. 1 the track or trail left in the water by a moving ship or boat 2 the track or course of anything that has gone before or passed by in the wake of 1 following directly or close behind 2 following as a consequence [prob. via LowG < ON vök, hole, opening in the ice: for IE base see HUMOR]

Wakefield (weik´fi:ld') city in NC England, in West Yorkshire: pop. 60,000

wakeful (weik´fэl) •adj. 1 keeping awake; not sleeping 2 alert; watchful; vigilant 3 a) unable to sleep b) sleepless {a wakeful night} wake´ful·ly •adv. wake´ful·ness •n.

wakeless (-lis) •adj. unbroken; deep: said of sleep

waken (wei´kэn) •vi. 1 to become awake; come to one's senses after sleep or a state like sleep 2 to become active, animated, or alive after inactivity or dormancy •vt. 1 to cause to wake; awake 2 to urge or stir into action or activity; arouse; excite SYN. STIR¹ wak´en·er •n. [ME waknen < OE wacnian, wæcnan, to become awake, akin to ON vakna, to waken: for IE base see WAKE¹]

wake-robin (weik´räb'in) •n. Æ 1 TRILLIUM 2 [Brit.] any of several arums, esp. the cuckoopint

wake-up (-ûp') •n. colloq. name for FLICKER²

Waksman (wæks´mэn), Sel·man A(braham) (sel´mэn) 1888-1973; U.S. microbiologist, born in Russia

Walachia (wä lei´ki: э) region in E Europe, south of the Transylvanian Alps: merged with Moldavia (1861) to form Romania

Walachian (-эn) •adj. of Walachia, its people, or their language •n. 1 a native or inhabitant of Walachia 2 the Romanian dialect of the Walachians

Waldemar I (väl´dэ mär') 1131-82; king of Denmark (1157-82): called the Great

Walden Pond (wöl´dэn) pond in E Mass., near Concord: site of Thoreau's cabin (1845-47) [prob. < a family name]

Waldenses (wäl den´si:z') •n.pl. a sect of dissenters from the Roman Catholic Church which arose about 1170 in S France: excommunicated in 1184, they survive esp. in northwestern Italy Wal·den´si·an •adj., n. [ME waldensis < ML waldenses, after Peter Waldo, 12th-c. Fr merchant and founder of the sect]

Waldheim (vält´haim'), Kurt (kuřt) 1918- ; Austrian diplomat: secretary-general of the United Nations (1972-81): president of Austria (1986-92)

Waldo (wöl´dou, wäl´-) a masculine name [OHG < waldan, to rule]

Waldorf salad (wöl´dörf') a salad made of diced raw apples, celery, and walnuts, with mayonnaise [after the old Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City]

wale¹ (weil) •n. 1 a raised line or streak made on the skin by the slash of a stick or whip; welt; weal 2 a) a ridge on the surface of cloth, as corduroy b) texture of cloth 3 a band or ridge woven around the body of a basket to brace it 4 Naut. any of several strakes or heavy planks fastened to the outside of the hull of a wooden ship: usually used in pl. •vt. waled, wal´ing 1 to mark (the skin) with wales 2 to make (cloth) or weave (wickerwork) with wales [ME < OE walu, weal < IE *wolos, round < base *wel-, to turn, roll > WALK, L vola]

wale² (weil) •n. [Scot. or North Eng.] 1 choice; selection 2 that chosen as best •vt. waled, wal´ing [Scot. or North Eng.] to choose; pick out; select [ME wal < ON val, akin to Ger wahl, choice, a choosing: for IE base see WILL¹]

Waler (weil´эr) •n. an Australian saddle horse of mixed breed, raised chiefly in New South Wales, exported to India for military use in the 19th cent. [Anglo-Ind, after (NEW SOUTH) WALES]

Wales (weilz) division of the United Kingdom, occupying a peninsula of WC Great Britain: 8,016 sq. mi. (20,761 sq. km); pop. 2,792,000; chief city, Cardiff [OE Wealas, walas < PGmc *walhos < *walh-, Celt: see WELSH]

Wałesa (vä wen´sä), Lech (lekh) 1943- ; Pol. labor leader & politician: president of Poland (1990- )

Waley (wei´li:), Arthur (born Arthur David Schloss) 1889-1966; Eng. translator of Chin. & Jpn. literature

Walhalla (wäl häl´э) var. of VALHALLA

walk (wök) •vi. 1 to go along or move about on foot at a moderate pace; specif., a) to move by placing one foot firmly before lifting the other, as two-legged creatures do, or by placing two feet firmly before lifting either of the others, as four-legged creatures do b) to go about on foot for exercise or pleasure; hike 2 to return after death and appear on earth as a ghost 3 to advance or move in a manner suggestive of walking: said of inanimate objects 4 a) to follow a certain course of life; conduct oneself in a certain way {let us walk in peace} b) to join with others in a cooperative action, a cause, etc. 5 [Obs.] to be active or in motion, or to keep moving Æ 6 Baseball to be advanced to first base as a result of being pitched four balls that do not enter the STRIKE ZONE Æ 7 Basketball TRAVEL •vt. 1 to go through, over, or along at a moderate pace on foot {to walk the deck, the streets, etc.} 2 to traverse (a boundary, fence, etc.) on foot in order to survey, inspect, or repair 3 a) to cause (a horse, dog, etc.) to move at a walk; lead, ride, or drive at a walk b) to train and exercise (a horse, dog, etc.) in this way 4 to push (a bicycle, motorcycle, etc.) while walking alongside or behind 5 to accompany (a person) on a walk or stroll {to walk a friend home} 6 a) to force (a person) to move at a walk, as by grasping the shoulders and pushing b) to help (a disabled person) to walk 7 to bring (a person or animal) to a specified state by walking {to walk someone to exhaustion} 8 to move (a bulky or heavy object) by rocking along from one side or corner to another in a manner suggestive of walking Æ 9 Baseball a) to advance (a batter) to first base by pitching four balls that do not enter the STRIKE ZONE b) to force (a run) in by doing this when the bases are loaded •n. 1 the act of walking 2 a period or course of walking for pleasure or exercise; stroll or hike 3 a route traversed by walking 4 a distance walked, often in terms of the time required {an hour's walk from home} 5 the relatively slow pace of a person or animal that walks 6 a manner of walking {to know someone by his walk} 7 a particular station in life, sphere of activity, occupation, etc. {people from all walks of life} 8 [Now Rare] mode of living 9 a path, avenue, etc. specially prepared or set apart for walking; specif., SIDEWALK 10 ROPEWALK 11 a) a plantation of trees in rows with a space between b) the space between any two such rows 12 a place or enclosure for grazing or exercising animals, as a sheepwalk 13 [Brit.] the route covered in one's round of duty or work, as in delivering mail 14 a race between walking contestants: in this sport, the heel of each foot must touch the ground before the toe Æ 15 Baseball the act or an instance of walking a batter or of being walked walk (all) over [Colloq.] 1 to defeat overwhelmingly 2 to treat in a domineering, unfeeling way walk away from to outdistance easily; defeat handily walk away with 1 to steal 2 to win easily walk off 1 to go away, esp. without warning 2 to get rid of by walking {to walk off pounds} walk off with 1 to steal 2 to win (a contest) or gain (a prize), esp. easily walk out 1 to leave abruptly or angrily Æ 2 to go on strike Æ walk out on [Colloq.] to desert; abandon walk through Theater to carry out a walk-through of walk with God to lead a godly, morally upright life [ME walken < OE wealcan, to roll, journey, akin to Ger walken, Frank *walken, to full (cloth), stamp < IE *wolg- < base *wel-, to turn, roll > L volvere, to roll, Gr eilyein, to roll up, wrap]

walkabout (wök´э baut') •n. 1 [Austral.] a periodic return to nomadic life in the Outback by an Aborigine: often in the phrase to go (on) walkabout 2 [Brit., etc.] a) a walking tour b) an informal stroll through a crowd, as by royalty

walkaway (wök´э wei') •n. an easily won victory

walker (wök´эr) •n. 1 a person or animal that walks; specif., a contestant in a walking race Æ 2 a tubular frame on wheels for use by babies who are learning to walk Æ 3 a somewhat similar frame used as a support in walking by the lame, convalescents, etc.

walkie-talkie (wök´i: tök´i:) •n. a compact radio transmitter and receiver that can be carried by one person

walk-in (wök´in') •adj. 1 large enough for one to walk inside {a walk-in closet} 2 that can be entered directly from the street rather than through a lobby 3 designating or of a public agency, medical clinic, etc. which accepts anyone who walks in without an appointment; also, of such a person •n. 1 a walk-in closet, apartment, etc. 2 an easily won victory 3 a person who walks in, as to a clinic, without an appointment

walking (wök´iŋ) •adj. 1 a) that walks b) that is able to walk 2 for use by a walker, hiker, etc. 3 characterized by walking, hiking, etc. {a walking trip through Wales} 4 in human form {a walking encyclopedia} Æ 5 that is drawn by an animal and guided by a person walking {a walking plow} 6 that moves back and forth or up and down {a walking beam} 7 that moves in a manner suggestive of walking {a walking crane} 8 permitting the patient to be ambulatory {walking pneumonia} •n. 1 the act of a person or thing that walks 2 manner of walking; gait 3 the condition of the ground, a path, etc. with reference to its suitability for walking on

walking delegate [Historical] BUSINESS AGENT

walking fern Æ a native American fern (Camptosorus rhizophyllus) of the most common family (Polypodiaceae) of ferns, having simple lanceolate leaves with a protracted tip that roots when it touches the ground

walking leaf 1 LEAF INSECT 2 WALKING FERN

walking papers [Colloq.] dismissal from a job

walking shorts BERMUDA SHORTS

walking stick 1 a stick carried when walking; cane 2 any of various elongated, wingless, phasmid insects resembling a twig, esp. a North American species (Diapheromera femorata) feeding on plants: also walk´ing·stick' •n.

Walkman (wök´mэn, wök´mæn') trademark for a portable, pocket-size stereo cassette tape player for use with headphones: it is often combined with a radio

walk-on (wök´än') •n. a minor role in which the actor has no speaking lines or just a very few

walkout (-aut') •n. 1 a strike of workers 2 an abrupt departure of people, as from a meeting, in a show of protest

walkover (-ou'vэr) •n. 1 a race in which the one horse entered has merely to walk over the course to win 2 an easily won victory

walk-through (-θru:') •n. an early rehearsal of a play in which the actors begin to carry out actions on stage

walk-up (-ûp') •n. 1 an upstairs apartment or office in a building without an elevator 2 the building itself

walkway (wök´wei') •n. a path, passage, etc. for pedestrians, esp. one that is sheltered

Walkyrie (wäl kir´i:) •n. var. of VALKYRIE

walky-talky (wök´i: tök´i:) pl. -talk´ies •n. alt. sp. of WALKIE-TALKIE

wall (wöl) •n. 1 an upright structure of wood, stone, brick, etc., serving to enclose, divide, support, or protect; specif., a) such a structure forming a side or inner partition of a building b) such a continuous structure serving to enclose an area, to separate fields, etc. c) [usually pl.] such a structure used as a military defense; fortification d) such a structure used to hold back water; levee; dike 2 something resembling a wall in appearance or function, as the side or inside surface of a container, body cavity, etc. 3 something suggestive of a wall in that it holds back, divides, hides, etc. {a wall of secrecy} •adj. 1 of or along a wall 2 placed or growing on, in, or against a wall •vt. 1 to furnish, line, enclose, divide, protect, etc. with or as with a wall or walls {to wall a room with books, to wall off the old wing, a mind walled in by fears} 2 to close up (an opening) with a wall: usually with up drive (or push) to the wall to place in a desperate or extreme position drive (or send, etc.) up the wall [Colloq.] to make frantic, emotionally tense, crazy, etc. go to the wall 1 to be forced to retreat or yield in a conflict; suffer defeat 2 to fail in business; become bankrupt Æ off the wall [Slang] 1 unsound of mind; crazy 2 very eccentric or unconventional wall´-like' •adj. [ME wal < OE weall (akin to Ger wall) < L vallum, rampart < vallus, a stake, palisade < IE base *wel-, to turn > WALK]

wall fern a small, hardy fern (Polypodium virginianum) of the most common family (Polypodiaceae) of ferns, with densely matted, creeping stems, found on cliffs and walls in E North America and often grown in gardens

wall pellitory PELLITORY (sense 1)

wall plate a timber laid horizontally along a wall to support the ends of joists, girders, etc. and distribute their weight

wall rock Geol., Mining the rock mass on either side of a fault or vein

wall rocket a yellow-flowered European plant (Diplotaxis tenuifolia) of the crucifer family, found on rocky walls

wall rue either of two small, delicate, light-green spleenwort ferns (Asplenium cryptolepis or A. rutamuraria) usually growing on cliffs or walls in North America and Europe

Wall Street 1 street in lower Manhattan, New York City: the main financial center of the U.S. 2 U.S. financiers and their power, influence, policies, etc., or the U.S. securities market [from a defensive wall built there by the Dutch in 1653]

wallaby (wäl´э bi:) pl. -bies •n.or -by any of various small and medium-sized herbivorous marsupials (family Macropodidae) that are very similar to kangaroos [< Australian native name wolabā]

Wallace (wöl´is, wäl´-) 1 a masculine name: dim. Wally 2 Alfred Russel 1823-1913; Eng. naturalist 3 Lew(is) 1827-1905; U.S. general & novelist 4 Sir William c. 1270-1305; Scot. patriot & leader in struggle against Edward I of England [< the surname Wallace < Anglo-Fr Waleis or ME Walisc, foreign, WELSH]

Wallachia (wä lei´ki: э) alt. sp. of WALACHIA

wallah (wäl´ä) •n. a person connected with a particular thing or function Also sp. wal´la [Anglo-Ind < Hindi -wālā, a suffix of agency]

wallaroo (wäl´э ru:', wäl'э ru:´) •n. a large kangaroo (Macropus robustus) of rocky regions characterized by a stocky body and broad, thickly padded feet [< Australian native name wolarū]

Wallasey (wäl´э si:) seaport in Merseyside, NW England, on the Mersey River opposite Liverpool: pop. 93,000

wallboard (wöl´börd') •n. fibrous material, commonly prepared with gypsum, made in thin slabs for making or covering walls and ceilings, in place of plaster, etc.

wallcovering (-kûv'эr iŋ) •n. material, as fabric, vinyl, or paper, usually with colored patterns printed on it, for covering the walls of a room

wallcreeper (-kri:p'эr) •n. a small, Eurasian passerine bird (Tichodroma muraria) with red-and-black wings, living in cliffs and town walls: in the same family (Sittidae) as the nuthatches

walled (wöld) •adj. 1 having, or enclosed by, a wall or walls 2 fortified {a walled town} 3 enclosed or hedged in as if by a wall

Wallenstein (väl´эn shtain'; E wöl´эn stain'), Al·brecht Eu·se·bi·us Wen·zel von (äl´břeHt oi zei´bi: us ven´tsэl fôn) 1583-1634; Austrian general in the Thirty Years' War

Waller (wöl´эr, wäl´-), Edmund 1606-87; Eng. poet

wallet (wöl´it, wäl´-) •n. 1 [Archaic] a knapsack Æ 2 a flat pocketbook, as of leather, with compartments for paper money, cards, etc.; billfold [ME walet < ?]

walleye (wöl´ai') •n. 1 an eye, as of a horse, with a whitish iris or white, opaque cornea 2 a) an eye that turns outward, showing more white than is normal b) divergent strabismus 3 leukoma of the cornea 4 a large, glossy eye 5 a) any of several fishes with large, glossy eyes Æ b) a North American, freshwater food and game perch (Stizostedion vitreum) [back-form. < fol.]

walleye surfperch a common black and silvery surfperch (Hyperprosopon argenteum) found off the coast of California

walleyed (-aid') •adj. 1 having one or both eyes with a whitish iris or white, opaque cornea 2 having eyes that turn outward, showing more white than is normal, because of divergent strabismus 3 having leukoma of the cornea 4 having large, glossy eyes, as some fishes 5 having or characterized by crazed, glaring eyes [altered by folk etym. < ME wawil-eyed < ON valdeygthr, altered < vagl eygr < vagl, a beam (> Swed vagel, sty) + eygr, having eyes, akin to EYE]

walleyed pike WALLEYE (sense 5b)

wallflower (-flau'эr) •n. 1 any of a number of perennial or annual garden plants (genera Cheiranthus and Erysimum) of the crucifer family, having racemes of cross-shaped flowers, usually yellow or orange; esp., a common perennial (C. cheiri) having racemes of fragrant, colorful flowers 2 [Colloq.] a person, esp. a girl, who merely looks on at a dance, etc. as from shyness or from lack of a partner

Wallis (väl´is) Ger. name of VALAIS

Wallis and Futuna (wöl´is) French overseas territory in the South Pacific, northeast of the Fiji Islands: it consists of two groups of islands (Wallis Islands and Futuna Islands): c. 105 sq. mi. (274 sq. km); pop. 12,000

Walloon (wä lu:n´) •n. 1 any member of a chiefly Celtic people living mostly in S and SE Belgium and nearby parts of France 2 the French dialect of the Walloons [Fr Wallon < ML Wallo, of Gmc orig., as in OHG walh, foreigner, OE Wealh, Briton, foreigner: see WELSH]

wallop (wäl´эp) •vi. [Colloq. or Dial.] 1 a) to move along in a rapid, reckless, awkward way b) to move heavily and clumsily; flounder 2 to boil vigorously, with noisy bubbling •vt. [Colloq.] 1 to beat soundly; thrash 2 to strike hard 3 to defeat overwhelmingly •n. 1 [Colloq. or Dial.] a heavy, clumsy movement of the body 2 [Colloq.] a) a hard blow b) the power to strike a hard blow c) effective force; vigor Æ 3 [Colloq.] a feeling of pleasurable excitement; thrill 4 [Brit., etc. (exc. Cdn.) Slang] beer wal´lop·er •n. [ME walopen, to gallop < NormFr waloper (OFr galoper): see GALLOP]

walloping (-iŋ) •adj. [Colloq.] 1 impressively large; enormous 2 extraordinary •n. [Colloq.] 1 a thrashing or beating 2 a crushing defeat •adv. [Colloq.] extraordinarily [prp. of prec.]

wallow (wäl´ou) •vi. 1 to roll about or lie relaxed, as in mud, dust, water, etc. 2 to move heavily and clumsily; roll and pitch, as a ship 3 to live or indulge oneself to an immoderate degree (in a specified thing, condition, etc.) {to wallow in self-pity} 4 to surge or billow •n. 1 the act or an instance of wallowing Æ 2 a muddy or dusty place in which animals wallow Æ 3 a pit or depression produced by animals' wallowing wal´low·er •n. [ME walwen < OE wealwian, to roll around < PGmc *walw- < IE *wolw- < base *wel- > WALK]

wallpaper (wöl´pei'pэr) •n. paper, usually with colored patterns printed on it, for covering the walls or ceiling of a room •vt. to hang or apply wallpaper on or in

Wallsend (wölz´end') city in N England, on the Tyne: pop. 50,000

wall-to-wall (wöl´tэ wöl´) •adj. 1 that completely covers a floor {wall-to-wall carpeting} 2 [Colloq.] a) in very large numbers or amounts; found throughout; pervasive b) comprehensive; all-inclusive {wall-to-wall health care}

wally¹ (wei´li:) •adj. [Scot.] 1 fine; first-rate 2 large, strong, or robust 3 pleasing; agreeable [< ? ME wal, choice: see WALE²]

wally² (wäl´i:) •n. [Brit. Slang] a foolish or ineffectual person [orig. uncert.; ? dim. of Walter]

wallydrag (wei´li: dræg') •n. [Scot.] 1 a weak, underdeveloped creature 2 a slovenly person; esp., a slovenly woman Also wal´ly·drai'gle (-drei'gэl) [< ?]

walnut (wöl´nût', -nэt) •n. 1 any of a genus (Juglans) of trees of the walnut family, valued as shade trees, for their nuts, and for their wood, used in making furniture, paneling, etc. 2 the edible nut of any of these trees, having a two-lobed seed 3 their wood 4 a shade of brown characteristic of the heartwood of the black walnut •adj. designating a family (Juglandaceae, order Juglandales) of dicotyledonous trees native to the temperate parts of the Northern Hemisphere, including the black walnut, English walnut, pecan, and hickory [ME walnot < OE walhhnutu < wealh, foreign (see WELSH) + hnutu, NUT]

Walnut Creek city in W Calif., near Oakland: pop. 61,000 [transl. of Sp Arroyo de los Nogales, Creek of the Walnuts, after the native black walnuts]

Walpole (wöl´poul, wäl´-) 1 Horace 4th Earl of Orford (born Horatio Walpole) 1717-97; Eng. writer 2 Sir Hugh (Seymour) 1884-1941; Eng. novelist, born in New Zealand 3 Sir Robert 1st Earl of Orford 1676-1745; Eng. statesman: prime minister (1721-42): father of Horace

Walpurgis Night (väl pur´gis) •n. April 30, the eve of May Day, when witches supposedly gathered on Brocken mountain for a demonic orgy: also Wal·pur·gis·nacht (väl puř´gis näkht') [Ger] [after St. Walpurgis, Eng missionary in Germany (8th c.): her day is April 30]

walrus (wöl´rэs) pl. -rus·es •n.or -rus a massive, arctic sea carnivore (Odobenus rosmarus) of the same family (Otariidae) as the eared seals, having two tusks projecting from the upper jaw, a thick mustache, a very thick hide, and a heavy layer of blubber •adj. of, characteristic of, or suggestive of a walrus; specif., designating a mustache with long, drooping ends [Du < Dan hvalros, prob. by metathesis < ON hrosshvalr, lit., horse whale < hross, akin to OE hros, horse + hvalr, WHALE¹]

Walsall (wöl´söl') city in WC England, near Birmingham: pop. 266,000

Walsingham (wöl´siŋ эm), Sir Francis c. 1532-90; Eng. statesman: secretary of state to Elizabeth I (1573-90)

Walter (wölt´эr; for 2, väl´tэr) 1 a masculine name: dim. Walt, Wally 2 Bruno (born Bruno Walter Schlesinger) 1876-1962; U.S. orchestra conductor, born in Germany [NormFr Waltier < Frank Waldheri < waldan, to rule (akin to WIELD) + heri, hari, army, host; also < Ger Walter, Walther < OHG form of same name]

Walter Mitty (mit´i:) an ordinary, unassuming person who dreams of being heroic, successful, etc. [< The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, a short story by THURBER]

Waltham (wöl´θæm', -θэm) city in E Mass., on the Charles River: pop. 58,000 [? after Waltham Abbey in England, home of some of the first settlers]

Waltham Forest (wöl´θэm, -tэm) borough of NE Greater London, England: pop. 220,000

Walther von der Vogelweide (väl´tэř fôn deř fou´gэl vai'dэ) c. 1170-c. 1230; Ger. minnesinger

Walton (wölt´ªn) 1 I·zaak (ai´zэk) 1593-1683; Eng. writer 2 Sir William (Turner) 1902-83; Eng. composer

waltz (wölts) •n. 1 a ballroom dance for couples, in moderate ¾ time with marked accent on the first beat of the measure 2 music for this dance or in its characteristic rhythm 3 [Colloq.] a thing easy to do; esp., an easy victory in a contest •adj. of, for, or characteristic of a waltz •vi. 1 to dance a waltz 2 to move lightly and nimbly; whirl 3 [Colloq.] a) to proceed effortlessly {to waltz through life} b) to win easily (with in) •vt. 1 to dance with in a waltz 2 to take and lead peremptorily waltz´er •n. [abbrev. < Ger walzer < walzen, to roll, dance about, waltz: for IE base see WALK]

Walvis Bay (wöl´vis) 1 inlet of the Atlantic, on the coast of Namibia 2 seaport on this inlet: pop. 25,000 3 small exclave of Cape Province, South Africa, surrounding this seaport: 434 sq. mi. (1,124 sq. km) [< Du walvis, whale < MDu walvisc < wal, WHALE¹ + visc, akin to OE fisc, FISH]

wamble (wäm´bэl, wäm´эl) -bled, -bling •vi. [Chiefly Dial.] 1 to turn, twist, or roll about 2 to move unsteadily 3 [Obs.] to be nauseated •n. [Chiefly Dial.] 1 an unsteady movement 2 a sensation of nausea wam´bly (-bli:, -li:), -bli·er, -bli·est, •adj. [ME wamlen, akin to Norw vamla, to stagger, Dan vamle, to feel nausea: for IE base see VOMIT]

wame (weim) •n. [Scot.] the belly [var. of WOMB]

Wampanoag (wäm'pэ nou´æg') pl. -no´ag' or -no´ags' •n. 1 a member of a loosely confederated group of Algonquian peoples in SE Massachusetts or their present-day descendants 2 the extinct language of these peoples, comprising several dialects of Massachusett [Narragansett, lit., people of the east]

wampum (wäm´pэm) •n. 1 small beads made of shells and used by North American Indians as money, for ornament, etc.: they were of two varieties, white and the more valuable black (or dark purple) 2 [Slang] money [earlier wampompeag < Massachusett (cf. Abenaki wαpαpðyak, wampum strings < wαp-, white + -αpi, string + -ak, pl.)]

wan¹ (wän) wan´ner, wan´nest •adj. 1 sickly pale; pallid {a wan complexion} 2 faint or weak in a way suggestive of sickness or great weariness, sadness, etc. {a wan smile} •vt., vi. wanned, wan´ning [Now Rare] to make or become sickly pale SYN. PALE¹ wan´ly •adv. wan´ness •n. [ME < OE wann, dark]

wan² (wæn) •vi., vt. obs. pt. of WIN

Wanamaker (wän´э mei'kэr), John 1838-1922; U.S. merchant

wand (wänd) •n. 1 a slender, supple switch or shoot, as of a young tree 2 a rod or staff carried as a symbol of authority; scepter 3 a rod regarded as having magical powers, as one used by a magician or fairy Æ 4 Archery a slat 6 feet high and 2 inches wide, used as a target at a distance of 100 yards for men and 60 yards for women [ME < ON vondr, akin to Goth wandus < IE base *wendh- > WIND¹]

Wanda (wän´dэ) a feminine name

wander (wän´dэr) •vi. 1 to move or go about aimlessly, without plan or fixed destination; ramble; roam 2 to go to a destination in a casual way or by an indirect route; idle; stroll 3 a) to turn aside or astray (from a path, course, etc.); lose one's way b) to stray from home, friends, familiar places, etc. (often with off) 4 to go astray in mind or purpose; specif., a) to drift away from a subject, as in discussion; stray or roam in thought b) to turn away from accepted belief or morals c) to be disjointed, disordered, incoherent, etc. 5 to pass or extend in an irregular course; meander, as a river 6 to move idly from one object to another: said of the eyes, a glance, the hands, etc. •vt. to roam through, in, or over without plan or destination {to wander the world} wan´der·er •n. [ME wandren < OE wandrian, akin to Ger wandern, akin ? to WEND, WIND¹]

wandering (-iŋ) •adj. 1 that wanders; moving from place to place; roaming, roving, straying, etc. 2 nomadic: said of tribes 3 winding: said of rivers and roads •n. 1 an aimless going about 2 [pl.] travels, esp. when extended and apparently purposeless 3 [pl.] incoherent or disordered thoughts or utterances wan´der·ing·ly •adv.

wandering albatross a large white sea bird (Diomedea exulans) with black wings

Wandering Jew in medieval folklore, a Jew condemned to wander the earth restlessly until the second coming of Christ because of his scornful attitude just before the Crucifixion [w- J-] any of several trailing plants (esp. genera Tradescantia and Zebrina) of the spiderwort family, having smooth stems and leaves, and white, red, or blue flowers; esp., a purplish plant (Z. pendula)

Wanderjahr (vän´dэř yäř') •n. 1 a year of travel before settling down to one's vocation: orig. a custom of European journeymen 2 any lengthy period of travel [Ger, wander-year]

wanderlust (wän´dэr lûst') •n. an impulse, longing, or urge to wander or travel [Ger < wandern, to travel, WANDER + lust, joy: see LUST]

Wandsworth (wändz´wørθ') borough of SW Greater London: pop. 258,000

wane (wein) waned, wan´ing •vi. 1 to grow gradually less in extent: said esp. of the visible face of the moon during the phases after full moon in which the lighted portion is gradually reduced to a thin crescent on the left, as seen from the Northern Hemisphere: opposed to WAX² (sense 1) 2 to become less intense, bright, strong, etc.; grow dim or faint, as a light 3 to decline in power, importance, prosperity, influence, etc. 4 to approach the end: said of a period of time {the day wanes} •n. 1 a) the gradual decrease in the visible face of the moon after it has become full b) the time when this takes place 2 a gradual decrease in power, importance, intensity, etc., esp. after a gradual climb to a peak 3 a period of decline 4 the beveled, defective, bark-covered edge or corner of a board or plank cut from an unsquared log or block of wood on the wane waning, declining, decreasing, etc. SYN.—wane implies a fading or weakening of that which has reached a peak of force, excellence, etc. [his fame waned rapidly]; abate suggests a progressive lessening in degree, intensity, etc. [the fever is abating]; ebb, applied specifically to a fluctuating force, refers to one of the periods of recession or decline [their ebbing fortunes]; subside suggests a quieting or slackening of violent activity or turbulence [her temper had subsided] —ANT. wax, increase, revive [ME wanien < OE wanian, to decrease, grow less, akin to wan, lacking: for IE base see WANT]

waney (wein´i:) wan´i·er, wan´i·est •adj. 1 waning; decreasing, declining, etc. 2 having a WANE (n. 4)

wangle (wæŋ´gэl) wan´gled, wan´gling •vt. [Colloq.] 1 to get, make, or bring about by persuasion, influence, adroit manipulation, contrivance, etc. 2 to manipulate or change (statistics, accounts, etc.) for a selfish or dishonest purpose; falsify; juggle 3 to wiggle or wriggle •vi. [Colloq.] 1 to make use of contrivance, adroit manipulation, or tricky and indirect methods in order to achieve one's aims 2 to wriggle, as out of a difficult situation wan´gler •n. [altered < ? WAGGLE]

Wanhsien (wän´shyen´) old form of WANXIAN

wanigan (wän´i gэn) •n. 1 a trunk, chest, etc. for storing supplies, as in a lumbering camp 2 a small, rough shelter for sleeping, cooking, etc., often one mounted on runners or wheels or on a raft or boat: also wan·gan or wan·gun (wän´gэn) [Ojibwa waanikaan, pit, hole dug in ground]

wanion (wän´yэn) •n. [Archaic] bad luck; curse; plague: used in with (or in) a wanion [altered < ME waneand, N dial. prp. of wanien, to WANE: sense < notion of the waning of the moon as unlucky time]

wank (wæŋk) [Slang, Chiefly Brit.] •vi. to masturbate: sometimes with off: a vulgar term •n. an instance of masturbating: a vulgar term

Wankel engine (wæŋ´kэl; wäŋ´-, väŋ´-) a rotary internal-combustion engine having a three-lobed rotor and requiring fewer parts than a comparable piston-operated engine: it is less efficient and less powerful than reciprocating engines [after Felix Wankel (1902-88), Ger engineer and inventor]

wannabe (wän´э bi:', wö´-) •n. [Slang] a person who wants to be or be like someone else or to attain some status or condition {a rock-star wannabe}: also wan´na-be'

Wanne-Eickel (vän'э ai´kэl) city in the Ruhr Basin of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany: pop. 108,000

want (wänt, wönt) •vt. 1 to have too little of; be deficient in; lack 2 to be short by (a specified amount) {it wants twelve minutes of midnight} 3 to feel the need of; long for; crave {to want adventure} 4 to desire; wish or long: followed by the infinitive {to want to travel} 5 a) to wish to see or speak with (someone) {wanted on the phone} b) to wish to apprehend, as for questioning or arrest {wanted by the police} 6 [Chiefly Brit., etc.] to require; need {this wants attending to} Want is also used colloquially as an auxiliary meaning ought or should [you want to be careful crossing streets] •vi. 1 to have a need or lack: usually with for {to want for money} 2 to lack the necessities of life; be destitute or impoverished {Waste not, want not} 3 [Rare] to be lacking or missing for completeness or a certain result {there wants but his approval} •n. [ME < ON vant, neut. of vanr, deficient < IE base *(e)wā-, to lack > L vanus, empty] 1 the state or fact of lacking, or having too little of, something needed or desired; scarcity; shortage; lack {to suffer from want of adequate care} 2 a lack of the necessities of life; poverty; destitution {to live in want} 3 a wish or desire for something; craving 4 something needed or desired but lacking; need SYN. DESIRE, LACK, POVERTY want in (or out or off, etc.) [Colloq.] to want to get, go, or come in (or out, off, etc.) want´er •n. [ME wanten < ON vanta, to be lacking, want: see the n.]

want ad [Colloq.] a classified advertisement in a newspaper or magazine stating that one wants a job, an apartment to rent, a specified type of employee, etc., or that one wishes to sell, buy, or trade something

wanting (wänt´iŋ) •adj. 1 absent; lacking; missing {a coat with some buttons wanting} 2 not up to some standard; inadequate in some essential {weighed and found wanting} •prep. 1 lacking (something); without {a watch wanting a minute hand} 2 minus {a year, wanting one week} wanting in deficient in

wanton (wän´tэn, wänt´ªn) •adj. 1 orig., undisciplined; unmanageable {a wanton child} 2 a) sexually loose or unrestrained {a wanton woman} b) [Old Poet.] frisky; playful; frolicsome c) [Old Poet.] capricious; unrestrained {wanton winds} 3 senseless, unprovoked, unjustifiable, or deliberately malicious {wanton cruelty, a wanton insult} 4 recklessly or arrogantly ignoring justice, decency, morality, etc. {wanton disregard of human rights} 5 a) [Now Rare] luxuriant (said of vegetation, etc.) b) lavish, luxurious, or extravagant (said of speech, dress, etc.) •n. a wanton person or thing; esp., a sexually loose or unrestrained woman •vi. to be wanton in behavior, action, manner, etc. •vt. to waste carelessly or in luxurious pleasures wan´ton·ly •adv. wan´ton·ness •n. [ME wantowen, var. of wantogen, wanton, irregular < OE wan-, used as negative prefix < wan, lacking, deficient (see WANE) + togen, pp. of teon, to draw, educate, bring up (see TOW¹)]

Wanxian (wän´shyän´) city in Sichuan province, central China, on the Chang: pop. c. 300,000

wany (wein´i:) wan´i·er, wan´i·est •adj. alt. sp. of WANEY

wap (wäp) wapped, wap´ping •n., vt., vi. [Now Chiefly Dial.] WHOP

wapentake (wäp´эn teik', wæp´-) •n. [Historical] in England, a) a subdivision of certain northern counties originally under Norse domination, corresponding to the hundred in other counties b) a law court in such a subdivision [ME < OE wapentac < ON vapnatak, lit., a weapon-taking (< vapn, WEAPON + tak, a taking, commandeering < taka, to TAKE): prob. used territorially from ceremony in which vassals touched the raised spear of the lord with their own as token of submission]

wapiti (wäp´эt i:) pl. -tis •n.or -ti a large, North American deer (Cervus canadensis) with widely branching antlers and a short tail [< Shawnee waapiti, lit., one with a white rump < waap-, white + -iti, rump]

wappenschawing (wäp´эn shö'iŋ) Scot. History a review or mustering of men under arms, held at periodic intervals in each district: also wap´pen·schaw' •n. [ME wapynschawing < wapen, WEAPON + schawing, a showing: see SHOW]

War between the States the U.S. Civil War (1861-65): term used by those sympathetic to the Confederacy

war bonnet a ceremonial headdress worn by some North American Indian warriors, consisting of a headband and trailing part studded with feathers

war chest a fund, as of contributions from individuals, created for a particular purpose, as a political campaign

war crime any crime in violation of international law or accepted laws of war or of assumed norms of humane behavior, committed in connection with a war as by a member of a belligerent nation's military forces or government war criminal

war cry 1 a name, phrase, slogan, etc. shouted in a charge or battle 2 a phrase or slogan adopted by a party in any conflict, contest, election, etc.

war dance a ceremonial dance performed as by some American Indian tribes before battle or after victory

war game 1 KRIEGSPIEL 2 [pl.] practice maneuvers involving actual troops, sailors, etc. and military vehicles and equipment 3 the testing of a plan or hypothetical situation, as in devising military strategy, using a computer, simulated models, etc.

war hawk HAWK¹ (n. 2)

war horse 1 a horse used in battle; charger 2 [Colloq.] a person who has been through many battles or struggles; veteran 3 [Colloq.] a symphony, play, opera, etc. that has been performed so often as to seem trite and stale For 2 & 3, now usually war´horse' •n.

War of 1812 a war (1812-15) between the U.S. and Great Britain

War of American Independence a Brit., etc. name for AMERICAN REVOLUTION

War of Independence AMERICAN REVOLUTION

war of nerves a conflict or campaign utilizing psychological means to unsettle an opponent or to destroy morale

War of Secession the U.S. Civil War Also called WAR BETWEEN THE STATES or War of the Rebellion

war paint 1 a pigment applied to the face and body, as by some American Indian tribes, in preparation for war 2 [Slang] ceremonial dress; regalia 3 [Slang] cosmetics, as used by women; makeup

war whoop a loud shout or yell uttered, as by North American Indians, on going into battle, etc.

war¹ (wör) •n. 1 open armed conflict between countries or between factions within the same country 2 any active hostility, contention, or struggle; conflict {the war against disease} 3 [Obs.] a battle 4 military operations as a profession or science •adj. of, used in, or resulting from war •vi. warred, war´ring 1 to carry on war; engage in military conflict 2 to be in a state of hostility or contention; contend; strive at war in a state of active armed conflict declare war (on) 1 to make a formal declaration of being at war (with) 2 to announce one's hostility (to) go to war 1 to enter into a war 2 to become a member of the armed forces during a war [ME werre < NormFr < Frank *werra, confusion, strife, akin ? to OHG (fir)werran, to confuse < ?]

war² (wär) •adj., adv. [Scot. or North Eng.] WORSE [ME < ON verre, adj., verr, adv.; akin to OHG werran, to confuse]

Warangal (wö´rэŋ gэl) city in N Andhra Pradesh, S India: pop. 336,000

warble fly any of a family (Oestridae) of botflies whose larvae burrow beneath the hide of cattle, horses, and other animals, producing warbles

warble¹ (wör´bэl) -bled, -bling •vt. 1 to sing (a song, notes, etc.) melodiously, with trills, quavers, runs, etc., as a bird 2 to express in song •vi. 1 to sing melodiously, with trills, etc. 2 to make a musical sound; babble, as a stream Æ 3 YODEL •n. 1 the act of warbling 2 a warbling sound; trill [ME werblen < NormFr werbler < Frank *wirbilon, akin to Ger wirbeln, to whirl, warble]

warble² (wör´bэl) •n. 1 a small, hard tumor on the back of a horse, caused by the rubbing and pressing of a saddle 2 a lump or swelling under the hide of an animal, esp. on the back, caused by the presence of a larva of a botfly, esp. a warble fly war´bled •adj. [prob. < Scand, as in obs. Swed varbulde, a boil < var, pus + bulde, tumor]

warbler (wör´blэr) •n. 1 a bird or person that warbles; singer; songster Æ 2 any of a large, New World passerine family (Parulidae) of small, insect-eating birds, many of which are brightly colored, as the yellow warbler, the prothonotary warbler, or the American redstart; wood warbler 3 any of an Old World passerine family (Sylviidae) of small songbirds, as the whitethroats

Warburg (väř´buřk'), Ot·to Hein·rich (ô´tou hain´riH') 1883-1970; Ger. biochemist

ward (wörd) •vt. 1 to turn aside; fend off; parry: usually with off 2 [Archaic] to keep watch over; guard; protect •n. [ME < OE weard] 1 the act of guarding: see WATCH AND WARD 2 the state of being under guard 3 a) [Now Rare] guardianship, as of a person of unsound mind or a child b) [Now Rare] the condition of being under the control of a guardian; wardship c) a child or legally incompetent person placed under the care of a guardian or court d) any person under another's protection or care 4 each of the parts or divisions of a jail or prison 5 a room or division of a hospital set apart for a specific class or group of patients {a maternity ward} 6 a district or division of a city or town, for purposes of administration, representation, voting, etc. Æ 7 Mormon Ch. a local unit presided over by a bishop and two counselors 8 a means of defense or protection 9 a defensive posture, position, or motion, as in fencing 10 an open space enclosed by the walls of a castle or fortification 11 [Archaic] a garrison; the guard or watch 12 Lockmaking a) a projecting ridge in a keyhole or lock face that allows only the right key to enter b) the notch in a key that matches this ridge [ME warden < OE weardian, to protect, guard, akin to OHG warten, to wait (see GUARD): E form and sense infl. by NormFr warder, to protect, keep (for OFr garder)] Ward (wörd) 1 Ar·te·mus (ärt´э mэs) (pseud. of Charles Farrar Browne) 1834-67; U.S. humorist 2 Barbara 1914-1981; Eng. writer 3 Mrs. Humphry (born Mary Augusta Arnold) 1851-1920; Brit. novelist, born in Tasmania

-ward (wэrd) suffix 1 forming adverbs in a (specified) direction {inward} 2 forming adjectives in a (specified) direction {downward} [ME -werd < OE -weard < base of weorthan, to become: see WORTH²]

ward heeler a hanger-on of a ward committee or politician, who solicits votes for the party and performs minor tasks for his or her political bosses: often regarded as a contemptuous term

warded (wörd´id) •adj. having wards, as a lock or key

Warden (wörd´ªn) •n. [sometimes w-] an old variety of winter pear used chiefly for cooking [ME wardone, prob. < NormFr warder, to keep: see WARD, vt.] warden (wörd´ªn) •n. 1 a person who guards, or has charge of, something; keeper, custodian, or special supervisory official {fire warden, game warden} 2 the chief administrative official of a prison 3 in England, a title for a) a governor b) an officer in charge of a certain department of government c) the superintendent of a port or market: now obsolete when used for other high government officers 4 in England, a) a governing officer in certain guilds, hospitals, etc.; trustee b) the head of certain British colleges and of some schools 5 in Connecticut, the chief executive of a borough 6 CHURCHWARDEN (sense 1) 7 [Archaic] a gatekeeper or watchman war´den·ship' •n. [ME wardein < NormFr, warden (for OFr gardien): see GUARDIAN]

warder¹ (wörd´эr) •n. 1 a person who guards; watchman 2 a person who guards an entrance 3 [Chiefly Brit., etc.] a prison guard or officer ward´er·ship' •n. [ME wardere < Anglo-Fr wardour, for OFr garder: see GUARD]

warder² (wörd´эr) •n. a staff or rod formerly carried by a king, commander, etc. as a mark of authority, and used to signal his wishes [LME < wardrer, a club < ? warden, WARD]

wardress (wör´dris) •n. [Chiefly Brit., etc.] a prison matron: now rare

wardrobe (wör´droub') •n. 1 a closet or movable cabinet, usually relatively tall and provided with hangers, etc., for holding clothes 2 a room where clothes are kept; esp., a room in a theater where costumes are kept 3 a collection of clothes; esp., a) the complete supply of clothes of a person b) a supply of clothes for a particular season or purpose {a spring wardrobe} c) the collection of costumes of a theater or theatrical company 4 in a royal or noble household, the department in charge of clothes [ME warderobe < NormFr, for OFr garderobe < garder (see GUARD) + robe, ROBE]

wardrobe trunk a large trunk for carrying clothing, etc. and, when standing upright, for hanging suits, dresses, etc.

wardroom (wörd´ru:m') •n. 1 in a warship, a compartment used for eating and lounging by commissioned officers, except, usually, the captain 2 these officers collectively [WARD, n. + ROOM]

-wards (wэrdz) suffix forming adverbs -WARD (sense 1)

wardship (wörd´ship') •n. 1 the office of a guardian; guardianship; custody, as of a minor 2 the condition of being a ward, or in the care of a guardian

ware¹ (wer) •n. 1 any piece or kind of goods that a store, merchant, peddler, etc. has to sell; also, any skill or service that one seeks to sell: usually used in pl. 2 things, usually of the same general kind, that are for sale; a (specified) kind of merchandise, collectively: generally in compounds {hardware, earthenware, glassware} 3 dishes made of baked and glazed clay; pottery, or a specified kind or make of pottery [ME < OE waru, merchandise, specialized use of waru, watchful care, in the sense what is kept safe: for IE base see GUARD]

ware² (wer) •adj. [Archaic] 1 aware; conscious (of) 2 on one's guard; ready; wary 3 prudent; cautious; wise •vt. wared, war´ing to beware of: usually in the imperative, esp. in hunting {ware hounds!} [ME waren < OE warian] [ME war < OE wær < base of waru: see WARE1]

ware³ (weir) wared, war´ing •vt. [Scot. or North Eng.] to spend or squander (money, time, etc.) [ME waren < ON verja, akin to OE werian: see WEAR¹]

warehouse (wer´haus'; for v., usually, -hauz') •n. 1 a building where wares, or goods, are stored, as before distribution to retailers, or are kept in reserve, in bond, etc. 2 [Chiefly Brit., etc.] a wholesale store or, esp. formerly, a large retail store •vt. -housed', -hous'ing 1 to place or store in a warehouse 2 to place (a child, mentally ill person, etc.) in a large, impersonal institution ware´house'man (-mэn), pl. -men, •n. [ME: see WARE¹ & HOUSE]

wareroom (-ru:m') •n. a room used for storing or displaying things for sale

warfare (wör´fer') •n. 1 the action of waging war; armed conflict 2 conflict or struggle of any kind

warfarin (wör´fэ rin) •n. 1 a colorless, odorless, tasteless rat poison, C19H16O4, a crystalline powder that causes fatal internal bleeding in rodents 2 this drug neutralized with sodium hydroxide, used in medicine as an anticoagulant [W(isconsin) A(lumni) R(esearch) F(oundation) + (COUM)ARIN]

war-game (wör´geim') -gamed, -gam´ing •vt., vi. to examine, plan by, or engage in a war game

warhead (-hed') •n. the head, or forward section, of a torpedo, bomb, or other projectile, containing the explosive charge, chemical, etc.

Warhol (wör´höl', -houl'), An·dy (æn´di:) c. 1928-1987; U.S. painter & filmmaker

warily (wer´э li:) •adv. in a wary manner; cautiously

wariness (-i: nis) •n. the quality or state of being wary

warison (wær´э sэn) •n. 1 [Obs.] a reward or gift given by a superior 2 a note sounded as a signal to attack [from such an erroneous use by Sir Walter SCOTT] [ME < NormFr, for OFr garison: see GARRISON]

warlike (wör´laik') •adj. 1 fit for, fond of, or ready for war; bellicose; martial 2 of or appropriate to war 3 threatening, or suggesting the likelihood of, war SYN. MARTIAL

warlock (wör´läk') •n. 1 a person who practices black magic; sorcerer or wizard: the male equivalent of a WITCH (sense 1) 2 a conjurer or magician [ME warloghe < OE wærloga, traitor, liar < wær, faith, a compact (see VERY) + leogan, to LIE²]

warlord (wör´lörd') •n. 1 a high military officer in a warlike nation 2 an aggressive tyrant 3 a local ruler or bandit leader, as formerly in China, with some sort of military following in a district where the established government is weak war´lord'ism' •n.

warm (wörm) •adj. 1 a) having or giving off a moderate degree of heat {a warm iron, warm coffee} b) giving off pleasurable heat {a warm fire} c) uncomfortably warm; hot {a warm night} 2 having the natural heat of living beings: said of the body, blood, etc. 3 a) heated or overheated, as with exercise or hard work b) such as to make one heated or overheated {warm exercise, work, etc.} 4 effective in keeping body heat in {warm clothing} 5 characterized by lively disagreement: said of argument or controversy 6 fervent; ardent; enthusiastic {warm encouragement} 7 lively, vigorous, brisk, or animated 8 quick to anger; irascible; heated 9 a) genial; cordial {a warm welcome} b) sincere; grateful {warm thanks} c) sympathetic, affectionate, or loving d) passionate; amorous 10 suggesting warmth; having yellow, orange, or red hue: said of colors 11 newly made; fresh; strong: said of a scent or trail 12 [Colloq.] close to discovering something; on the verge of guessing or finding, as in games 13 [Colloq.] disagreeable; uncomfortable {to make things warm for someone} •adv. so as to be warm; warmly •vt. [ME warmen < OE wearmian] 1 to make warm; raise the temperature of to a moderate extent 2 to make excited, animated, ardent, enthusiastic, lively, etc. 3 to fill with pleasant or kindly emotions {a sight to warm the heart} •vi. 1 to become warm 2 to become friendly, kindly, affectionate, or sympathetic (to or toward) 3 to become excited, ardent, enthusiastic, lively, etc.: often with to 4 to feel a glow of pleasure; bask •n. [Colloq.] a warming or being warmed SYN. TENDER¹ warm up 1 a) to heat or be heated; make or become warm b) to make or become sufficiently warm to operate effectively or efficiently {to warm up an engine} 2 to reheat (cooked food, etc.): also warm over 3 to make or become more animated, excited, ardent, lively, etc. 4 to practice or exercise a while before going into a game, contest, performance, etc. warm´er •n. warm´ly •adv. warm´ness •n. [ME < OE wearm, akin to Ger warm < IE base *gwher-, hot > Gr thermē, heat, thermos, warm, theros, summer, L formus, warm, fornax, furnace]

warm front Meteorol. the forward edge of an advancing mass of warm air that replaces colder air, usually while causing steady precipitation

warmblooded (-blûd'id) •adj. 1 having a body temperature that remains relatively constant, independent of and usually higher than that of the surroundings {mammals and birds are warmblooded animals} 2 having or characterized by an eager, lively, or passionate temperament; ardent; fervent; impetuous warm´blood'ed·ness •n.

warmed-over (wörmd´ou´vэr) •adj. 1 reheated {warmed-over hash} 2 presented again, without freshness or significant change {warmed-over ideas}

warmhearted (wörm´härt'id) •adj. kind, sympathetic, friendly, loving, etc. SYN. TENDER¹ warm´heart'ed·ly •adv. warm´heart'ed·ness •n.

warming pan a long-handled, covered pan for holding live coals: formerly used to warm beds

warmish (wörm´ish) •adj. somewhat warm

warmonger (wör´mûŋ'gэr, -mäŋ'-) •n. a person or agency that advocates war or tries to bring about a war war´mon'ger·ing •adj., n.

warmouth (wör´mauθ') pl. -mouth' •n.or -mouths' a freshwater sunfish (Lepomis gulosus) of the E U.S. and the Mississippi basin, usually olive-green or bronze mottled with darker colorings [< ?]

warmth (wörmθ) •n. 1 a) the state or quality of having or giving off a moderate degree of heat b) the degree of heat in a substance, esp. when it is moderate; mild heat 2 a) excitement or vigor of feeling; enthusiasm, ardor, zeal, etc. b) sympathetic, cordial, or affectionate feelings or nature c) slight anger 3 a glowing effect obtained by using red, yellow, etc. [ME wermthe: see WARM & -TH¹]

warm-up (wörm´ûp') •n. the act or an instance of warming up •adj. designating a garment, as a jacket, worn for exercising: also warm´up

warn (wörn) •vt. 1 to tell (a person) of a danger, coming evil, misfortune, etc.; put on guard; caution 2 to caution about certain acts; admonish {warned against smoking in the building} 3 to notify in advance; inform 4 to give notice to (a person) to stay or keep (off, away, etc.) •vi. to give warning SYN. ADVISE warn´er •n. [ME warnien < OE wearnian < IE base *wer-, to heed > GUARD]

warning (wörn´iŋ) •n. 1 the act of one that warns, or the state of being warned 2 something that serves to warn •adj. that warns; serving to warn warn´ing·ly •adv.

warning coloration bright and striking coloration, as the conspicuous stripes of the skunk, occurring in many distasteful or poisonous animals

warp (wörp) •n. 1 a) a distortion, as a twist or bend, in wood or in an object made of wood, caused by contraction in drying b) any similar distortion, as in metal c) the state or fact of being so distorted 2 a mental twist, quirk, aberration, or bias 3 a) silt, sediment, or mud deposited as by a stream b) a deposit of this 4 Naut. a rope or line run from a boat, etc. to a dock, buoy, anchor, etc., and used to warp the vessel into position 5 a) Weaving the threads running lengthwise in the loom and crossed by the weft or woof b) the very fiber or essential part of something; foundation; base •vt. [ME warpen, to throw, bend < OE weorpan, to throw] 1 to bend, curve, or twist out of shape; distort 2 a) to turn from the true, natural, or right course b) to turn from a healthy, sane, or normal condition; pervert; bias (said of the mind, character, judgment, etc.) c) to twist or distort in telling; misinterpret {a warped account} 3 Naut. to move (a boat, etc.) by hauling on a line fastened to a pile, dock, anchor, etc. 4 Weaving to arrange (threads or yarns) so as to form a warp •vi. 1 to become bent or twisted out of shape, as wood in drying 2 to turn aside from the true, natural, or right course 3 Naut. to move into position by warping or being warped, as a boat SYN. DEFORM warp´er •n. [ME < OE wearp < base of weorpan, to throw, akin to Ger werfen < IE *werb- < base *wer-, to turn, bend > WORM]

warp beam the roller on which the top is wound in a loom

warpath (wör´pæθ') •n. the path or course taken by American Indians on a warlike expedition on the warpath 1 at war, ready for war, or looking for war 2 actively angry; ready to fight

warplane (wör´plein') •n. any airplane for use in war

warrant (wör´эnt, wär´-) •n. 1 a) authorization or sanction, as by a superior or the law b) justification or reasonable grounds for some act, course, statement, or belief 2 something that serves as an assurance, or guarantee, of some event or result 3 a writing serving as authorization or certification for something; specif., a) authorization in writing for the payment or receipt of money b) a short-term note issued by a municipality or other governmental agency, usually in anticipation of tax revenues c) an option issued by a company granting the holder the right to buy certain securities, generally common stock, at a specified price and usually for a limited time d) Law a writ or order authorizing an officer to make an arrest, seizure, or search, or perform some other designated act e) Mil. the certificate of appointment to the grade of warrant officer (cf. WARRANT OFFICER) •vt. 1 a) to give (someone) authorization or sanction to do something b) to authorize (the doing of something) 2 to serve as justification or reasonable grounds for (an act, belief, etc.) {a remark that did not warrant such anger} 3 to give formal assurance, or guarantee, to (someone) or for (something); specif., a) to guarantee the quality, quantity, condition, etc. of (goods) to the purchaser b) to guarantee to (the purchaser) that goods sold are as represented c) to guarantee to (the purchaser) the title of goods purchased; assure of indemnification against loss d) Law to guarantee the title of granted property to (the grantee) 4 [Colloq.] to state with confidence; affirm emphatically {I warrant they'll be late} SYN. ASSERT war´rant·a·ble •adj. [ME warant < NormFr (OFr garant), a warrant < Frank *warand < prp. of *warjan; akin to OE werian, to guard, defend: see WEIR]

warrant officer an officer of the U.S. armed forces ranking above a noncommissioned officer but below a commissioned officer and holding office on a warrant instead of a commission

warrantee (wör'эn ti:´) •n. Law a person to whom a warranty is given

warrantor (wör´эn tör', -tэr) Law a person who warrants, or gives warranty: also war´rant·er (-tэr) •n.

warranty (wör´эn ti:, wär´-) pl. -ties •n. 1 official authorization or sanction 2 justification; reasonable grounds, as for an opinion or action 3 Law a guarantee; specif., a) a guarantee or an assurance, explicit or implied, of something having to do with a contract, as of sale; esp., the seller's assurance to the purchaser that the goods or property is or shall be as represented and, if not, will be replaced or repaired b) a guarantee by the insured that the facts are as stated in regard to an insurance risk, or that specified conditions shall be fulfilled: it constitutes a part of the contract and must be fulfilled to keep the contract in force c) a covenant by which the seller of real estate assures, and is bound to defend, the security of the title (in full covenant of warranty) [ME warantie < NormFr (OFr garantie): see WARRANT]

warranty deed Law a deed to real estate containing a covenant of warranty: see WARRANTY (sense 3c)

Warren (wör´эn, wär´-) 1 city in SE Mich.: suburb of Detroit: pop. 145,000 [after Dr. Joseph Warren (1741-75), killed at Bunker Hill] 2 city in NE Ohio: pop. 51,000: see YOUNGSTOWN [after Moses Warren, 19th-c. U.S. surveyor] Warren (wör´эn, wär´-) 1 a masculine name 2 Earl 1891-1974; U.S. jurist: chief justice (1953-69) 3 Robert Penn 1905-89; U.S. writer & poet: 1st poet laureate of the U.S. (1986-89) [NormFr warin < ? OHG Warin, the Varini, a people mentioned by Tacitus] warren (wör´эn, wär´-) •n. 1 orig., a piece of land enclosed for the breeding of game 2 a space or limited area in which rabbits breed or are numerous 3 any building or group of buildings crowded like a rabbit warren [ME wareine < NormFr warenne < warir, to preserve < Frank *warjan: see WARRANT]

warrener (-эr) •n. the owner or keeper of a warren

Warrington (wör´iŋ tэn, wär´-) city in Cheshire, NW England, on the Mersey River: pop. 173,000

warrior (wör´yэr, -i: эr) •n. a person taking part or experienced in conflict, esp. war; soldier [ME werreour < NormFr < werrier, to make war < werre, WAR¹]

Wars of the Roses the English civil war (1455-85) fought between the house of York, whose emblem was a white rose, and the house of Lancaster, whose emblem was a red rose: the war ended with the establishment of the house of Tudor on the English throne

Warsaw (wör´sö') capital of Poland, on the Vistula River: pop. 1,628,000: Pol. name War·sza·wa (väř shä´vä) warsaw (wör´sö') •n. a very large, black grouper (Epinephelus nigritus) of the Caribbean [altered < AmSp guasa]

warship (wör´ship') •n. any ship constructed or armed for use in war

warsle (wär´sэl) -sled, -sling •n., vi., vt. [Scot. or North Eng.] WRESTLE war´sler •n.

wart (wört) •n. 1 a small, usually hard, tumorous growth on the skin, caused by a virus 2 any small protuberance, as a glandular protuberance on a plant 3 an imperfection, failing, flaw, etc. {a lovable person, warts and all} wart´y •adj. [ME warte < OE wearte, akin to Ger warze < IE base *wer-, a raised place > L verruca, wart, VARIX]

wart hog a wild African hog (Phacochoerus aethiopicus) having a broad, flat face, very large, incurved tusks, and a number of conical warts on the cheeks between the eyes and tusks

Warta (väř´tä) river in Poland, flowing from the S part northwest into the Oder: 445 mi. (716 km)

Wartburg (väřt´buřk) medieval castle in Thuringia, Germany, where Martin Luther completed his translation of the New Testament (1521-22)

wartime (wör´taim') •n. a time of war •adj. of or characteristic of such a time

Warwick (wör´ik, wär´-; for 2, usually wör´wik') 1 WARWICKSHIRE 2 city in central R.I., on Narragansett Bay: pop. 85,000 [after the Earl of Warwick, friend of the founder] Warwick (wör´ik, wär´-), Earl of (Richard Neville) 1428-71; Eng. statesman & military leader

Warwickshire (wör´ik shir', -shэr; wär´-) county of central England: 765 sq. mi. (1,981 sq. km); pop. 478,000

wary (wer´i:) war´i·er, war´i·est •adj. 1 cautious; on one's guard 2 characterized by caution {a wary look} SYN. CAREFUL wary of careful of [< WARE² + -Y²]

was (wûz, wäz; unstressed wэz) •vi. 1st & 3d pers. sing., pt., of BE [ME < OE wæs, 1st & 3d pers. sing. of wesan, to be < IE base *wes-, to dwell, stay > Sans vastū, house: not orig. connected with BE]

wasabi (wä´sэ bi:) •n. an herb (Eutrema wasabi) of the crucifer family, with greenish roots that are grated and used like horseradish in Japanese dishes

Wasatch Range (wö´sæch') range of the Rockies, extending from central Utah to SE Ida.: highest peak, 12,008 ft. (3,660 m) [< AmInd (Ute), lit., mountain pass]

Wash Washington wash (wösh, wäsh) •vt. 1 to clean by means of water or other liquid, as by dipping, tumbling, or scrubbing, often with soap, a detergent, etc. 2 to make clean in a religious or moral sense; purify 3 to make wet, or moisten; drench or flush with water or other liquid 4 to cleanse (itself or another) by licking, as a cat does 5 to flow over, past, or against: said of a sea, river, lake, waves, etc. 6 to soak (out), flush (off), or carry (away) by or as by the use or action of water {to wash out dirt, a bridge washed away by the flood} 7 a) to make by flowing over and wearing away substance {a heavy rain that washed gullies in the bank} b) to cut into or erode; wear (out or away) by flowing over {the flood washed out the road} 8 to act as a suitable cleaning agent for {soap that will wash silks} 9 to cover with a thin or watery coating of paint, esp. of water color 10 to cover with a thin layer of metal 11 Chem. a) to pass distilled water through (a precipitate in a filter) b) to pass (a gas) over or through a liquid in order to remove soluble matter 12 Mining a) to pass water through or over (earth, gravel, etc.) in order to separate ore, metal, precious stones, etc. b) to separate (the ore, etc.) in this way •vi. 1 to wash oneself or one's hands, face, etc.: often with up 2 a) to wash clothes b) to clean anything in, or by means of, water, etc. 3 to undergo washing, esp. without fading or other damage 4 to be removed by washing: usually with out or away {stains that will wash out} 5 to sweep or flow (over, against, along, up, etc.) in or as in waves or a current, stream, etc. 6 to be cut, worn, or carried (out or away) by the action of water {the bridge had washed out} 7 to be eroded, as by the action of rain or a river 8 [Colloq.] to withstand a test or examination {an alibi that won't wash} •n. 1 a) the act or an instance of washing Æ b) a place where something is washed {carwash} 2 a quantity of clothes, etc. washed, or to be washed 3 waste liquid; refuse liquid food, as from cooking; swill; hogwash 4 a) the rush, sweep, or surge of water or waves b) the sound of this c) water rushing, sweeping, or surging in waves d) the surge or eddy of water caused by a propeller, oars, paddle wheel, etc. e) a disturbed eddy of air left behind a moving airplane, propeller, etc. 5 wear or erosion caused by a flow or falling of water, or by the action of waves 6 silt, mud, debris, etc. carried and dropped by running water, as of a stream 7 soil or earth from which metals, ores, precious stones, etc. may be washed 8 a) low ground which is flooded part of the time, and partly dry the rest, with water standing in pools b) a bog; marsh c) a shallow pool or pond, or a small stream d) a shallow arm of the sea or part of a river 9 a channel made by running water Æ 10 in the western U.S., the dry bed of a stream which flows only occasionally, usually in a ravine or canyon 11 a thin, watery layer of paint, esp. of watercolor, applied with even, sweeping movement of the brush 12 a thin coating of metal applied to a surface in liquid form 13 any of various liquids as for cosmetic, grooming, or medicinal use {mouthwash} 14 fermented liquor ready for distillation 15 weak liquor or liquid food Æ 16 [Colloq.] a drink of water, beer, etc. taken with whiskey, rum, etc.; chaser Æ 17 [Colloq.] a situation in which contrasted elements, as the losses and gains in a business transaction, offset each other •adj. that can be washed without damage; washable {a wash dress} come out in the wash [Slang] 1 to be revealed or explained sooner or later 2 to be resolved eventually, esp., without intervention and after a period of time wash down 1 to clean by washing, esp. with a stream of water 2 to follow (food, a drink of whiskey, etc.) with a drink, as of water wash out [Slang] Æ 1 to drop out of or be dropped from a training course, athletic program, etc. because of failure 2 to reject or fail SYN.—wash, the most general of these words, refers to any earthy material carried and deposited by running water; drift, the more precise term as used in geology, is usually qualified by a word descriptive of the manner in which the material is transported [glacial or fluvial drift]; alluvium usually refers to a deposit of relatively fine particles, such as soil, left by a flood, etc.; silt applies to material composed of very fine particles, such as that deposited on river beds or suspended in standing water [ME wasshen < OE wæscan, akin to Ger waschen: for prob. IE base see WATER] Wash (wösh, wäsh), The shallow inlet of the North Sea, on the E coast of England: c. 20 mi. (32 km) long

wash drawing a drawing done with brush on paper in monochrome using many washes of transparent watercolor or of India ink, shading from light to dark

wash goods washable fabrics or garments

wash sale the pretended trading of stock, accomplished by buying shares at one broker and simultaneously selling an equal number of shares at another broker, in order to make trade in that stock appear active: an illegal practice

washable (wösh´э bэl) •adj. that can be washed without shrinking, fading, or other damage Æ n. a washable fabric or garment

wash-and-wear (wösh´эn wer´) •adj. designating or of fabrics or garments that need little or no ironing after washing

washboard (-börd') •n. Æ 1 a) a board or frame with a ridged surface of metal, glass, etc., used for scrubbing dirt out of clothes b) the worn surface of a paved road resembling this 2 BASEBOARD 3 Naut. a thin, broad plank fastened along the gunwale of a boat or on the sill of a lower deck port to keep out the sea and spray

washbowl (-boul') •n. Æ a bowl or basin for use in washing one's hands and face, etc., esp. a bathroom fixture fitted with water faucets and a drain: also wash´ba'sin (-bei'sэn)

washcloth (-klöθ') •n. a small cloth, usually of terry, used in washing the face or body

washday (-dei') •n. a day, often the same day every week, when the clothes, linens, etc. of a household are washed

washed-out (wösht´aut´) •adj. 1 faded in color, specif. from washing 2 [Colloq.] tired; spiritless 3 [Colloq.] tired-looking; pale and wan

washed-up (-ûp´) •adj. 1 cleaned up 2 [Colloq.] tired; exhausted Æ 3 [Slang] finished; done for; having failed

washer (wösh´эr) •n. 1 a person who washes 2 a flat disk or ring of metal, leather, rubber, etc., used to make a seat for the head of a bolt or for a nut or faucet valve, to lock a nut in place, to provide a bearing surface, to serve as a sealer, etc. 3 a machine for washing something, as clothes, dishes, etc. 4 a device for washing gases

washerwoman (-wum'эn) pl. -wom'en •n. a woman whose work is washing clothes, linens, etc.; laundress wash´er·man (-mэn), pl. -men, •n.masc.

washing (wösh´iŋ) •n. 1 the act of a person or thing that washes; a cleaning, flushing, etc. in water or other liquid 2 clothes or other things washed or to be washed, esp. at one time 3 matter obtained or removed by washing 4 a thin coating, as of metal, put on in liquid form 5 Finance the act of making a wash sale

washing machine a machine for washing clothes, linens, etc., now usually operated automatically; washer

washing soda a crystalline form of sodium carbonate

Washington (wösh´iŋ tэn, wäsh´-) 1 NW coastal State of the U.S.: admitted, 1889; 68,192 sq. mi. (176,617 sq. km); pop. 4,867,000; cap. Olympia: abbrev. WA, Wash, or Wa 2 capital of the U.S., coextensive with the District of Columbia: pop. 607,000 (met. area incl. parts of Md. & Va. 3,924,000) 3 Lake lake in WC Wash., near Seattle: c. 20 mi. (32 km) long 4 Mount mountain of the White Mountains, in N N.H.: highest peak in New England: 6,288 ft. (1,916 m) Wash'ing·to´ni·an (-tou´ni: эn) •adj., n. [after George WASHINGTON] Washington (wösh´iŋ tэn, wäsh´-) 1 Book·er T(aliaferro) (buk´эr) 1856-1915; U.S. educator & author 2 George 1732-99; 1st president of the U.S. (1789-97): commander in chief of the Continental army Wash'ing·to´ni·an (-tou´ni: эn) •adj. Washington (wösh´iŋ tэn, wäsh´-) 1 NW coastal State of the U.S.: admitted, 1889; 68,192 sq. mi. (176,617 sq. km); pop. 4,867,000; cap. Olympia: abbrev. WA, Wash, or Wa 2 capital of the U.S., coextensive with the District of Columbia: pop. 607,000 (met. area incl. parts of Md. & Va. 3,924,000) 3 Lake lake in WC Wash., near Seattle: c. 20 mi. (32 km) long 4 Mount mountain of the White Mountains, in N N.H.: highest peak in New England: 6,288 ft. (1,916 m) Wash'ing·to´ni·an (-tou´ni: эn) •adj., n. [after George WASHINGTON] Washington (wösh´iŋ tэn, wäsh´-) 1 Book·er T(aliaferro) (buk´эr) 1856-1915; U.S. educator & author 2 George 1732-99; 1st president of the U.S. (1789-97): commander in chief of the Continental army Wash'ing·to´ni·an (-tou´ni: эn) •adj.

Washington palm a tall, slender fan palm (Washingtonia filifera) native to S California

Washington pie a layer cake with a filling of cream, custard, chocolate, fruit jelly, or the like

Washington's Birthday Feb. 22, George Washington's birthday: it is celebrated as a legal holiday in most States on the third Monday in February

Washita (wäsh´i tö', wösh´-) alt. sp. of OUACHITA

washout (wösh´aut') •n. Æ 1 the washing away of soil, earth, rocks, etc. by a sudden, strong flow of water Æ 2 a hole or gap made by such washing away, as in a railroad bed 3 [Slang] a complete failure

washrag (-ræg') •n. WASHCLOTH

washroom (-ru:m') •n. 1 a room for washing 2 RESTROOM

washstand (-stænd') •n. 1 a table holding a bowl and pitcher, etc. for washing the face and hands 2 a washbowl that is a bathroom fixture

washtub (-tûb') •n. a tub for washing clothes, etc.; often, a stationary metal tub fitted with water faucets and a drain

washwoman (-wum'эn) pl. -wom'en •n. WASHERWOMAN

washy (wösh´i:, wäsh´i:) wash´i·er, wash´i·est •adj. 1 watery; weak 2 weak in color; pale 3 without force or substance; insipid

wasn't (wûz´эnt, wäz´-) was not

wasp (wäsp, wösp) •n. any of various families of winged hymenopteran insects, characterized by a slender body with the abdomen attached by a narrow stalk, biting mouthparts, and, in the females and workers, a vicious sting that can be used repeatedly: some wasps, as the hornet, are characterized by a colonial or social organization [ME waspe < OE wæsp, akin to Ger wespe < Gmc base *waps- < IE *wobhsā < base *webh-, to WEAVE (in reference to the cocoonlike nest)]

WASP or Wasp (wäsp, wösp) •n. a white Anglo-Saxon Protestant WASP´ish or Wasp´ish •adj. Wasp´y •adj.

wasp waist a very slender or tightly corseted waist

waspish (wäs´pish) •adj. 1 of or like a wasp 2 having a slender waist, like a wasp 3 bad-tempered; snappish wasp´ish·ly •adv. wasp´ish·ness •n.

waspy (-pi:) wasp´i·er, wasp´i·est •adj. of, like, or characteristic of a wasp wasp´i·ness •n.

wassail (wäs´эl, wæs´-; -eil') •n. 1 a salutation formerly given in drinking the health of a person, as at a festivity 2 the spiced ale or other liquor with which such healths were drunk 3 a celebration with much drinking, esp. at Christmastime; carousal •vi. 1 to drink wassails 2 [Brit.] to go caroling from house to house at Christmastime •vt. to drink to the health or prosperity of was´sail·er •n. [ME, earlier wæs hæil < ON ves heill, lit., be hale, be hearty (replacing OE wes hal, lit., be whole)]

Wassermann (väs´эř män'; E wäs´эr mэn), Au·gust von (au´gust fôn) 1866-1925; Ger. bacteriologist

Wassermann test (or reaction) a complement-fixation test for the diagnosis of syphilis by determining the presence of syphilitic antibodies in the blood serum [after prec., who devised it]

wast (wäst; unstressed wэst) •vi. archaic 2d pers. sing., past indic., of BE: used with thou [Early ModE < WAS + -ST, replacing ME were < OE wære: see WERE]

wastage (weist´ij) •n. 1 loss by use, decay, deterioration, etc. 2 anything wasted, or the amount of this; waste 3 Geol. a) the processes by which snow and ice masses are reduced by melting, evaporation, etc. b) the amount of material lost through these processes

waste (weist) wast´ed, wast´ing •vt. 1 to destroy; devastate; ruin 2 to wear away; consume gradually; use up 3 to make weak, feeble, or emaciated; wear away the strength, vigor, or life of {a man wasted by age and disease} 4 to use up or spend without real need, gain, or purpose; squander 5 to fail to take proper advantage of {to waste an opportunity} Æ 6 [Slang] to kill, usually with violence; esp., to murder •vi. 1 to lose strength, health, vigor, flesh, etc., as by disease; become weak or enfeebled: often with away 2 to be used up or worn down gradually; become smaller or fewer by gradual loss 3 [Now Rare] to pass or be spent: said of time 4 to be wasted, or not put to full or proper use •adj. [ME wast < NormFr < L vastus: see VAST] 1 uncultivated or uninhabited, as a desert; wild; barren; desolate 2 left over, superfluous, refuse, or no longer of use {a waste product} 3 produced in excess of what is or can be used {waste energy} 4 excreted from the body as useless or superfluous material, as feces or urine 5 used to carry off or hold waste or refuse {a waste pipe, wastebasket} •n. [ME < NormFr < the adj.; also in part < L vastum, neut. of vastus] 1 uncultivated or uninhabited land, as a desert or wilderness 2 a) a desolate, uncultivated, or devastated stretch, tract, or area b) a vast expanse, as of the sea 3 a wasting or being wasted; specif., a) a useless or profitless spending or consuming; squandering, as of money, time, etc. b) a failure to take advantage (of something) c) a gradual loss, decrease, or destruction by use, wear, decay, deterioration, etc. 4 useless, superfluous, or discarded material, as ashes, garbage, sewage, etc. 5 matter excreted from the body, as feces or urine 6 cotton fiber or yarn left over from the process of milling, used for wiping machinery, packing bearings, etc. 7 [Obs.] ruin or devastation, as by war, fire, etc. 8 Physical Geog. material derived by land erosion or disintegration of rock, and carried to the sea by rivers and streams go to waste to be or become wasted lay waste (to) to destroy; devastate; make desolate SYN.—waste, in this connection, is the general word for any stretch of uncultivable, hence uninhabitable, land; a desert is a barren, arid, usually sandy tract of land; badlands is applied to a barren, hilly waste where rapid erosion has cut the soft rocks into fantastic shapes; wilderness refers to an uninhabited waste where a lack of paths or trails makes it difficult to find one's way, specif. to such a region thickly covered with trees and underbrush [ME wasten < NormFr waster < L vastare, to lay waste, devastate (< vastus: see VAST): infl. by Gmc *wostjan > OHG wuosten]

waste pipe a pipe for carrying off waste water, sink drainage, excess steam, etc.

wastebasket (weist´bæs'kit) •n. a basket or other open container for wastepaper, bits of trash, etc. Also wastepaper basket

wasted (weis´tэd) •adj. [Slang] 1 intoxicated by a drug 2 drunk

wasteful (-fэl) •adj. using more than is necessary; extravagant waste´ful·ly •adv. waste´ful·ness •n.

wasteland (-lænd') •n. 1 land that is uncultivated, barren, or without vegetation 2 a neglected, improperly managed, or intellectually unproductive activity, endeavor, etc.

wastepaper (-pei'pэr) •n. paper thrown away after use or as useless Also waste paper

waster (weis´tэr) •n. a person or thing that wastes; esp., a spendthrift or prodigal; wastrel

wasting (-tiŋ) •adj. 1 desolating; destructive {a wasting war} 2 destructive to health, as a disease wast´ing·ly •adv.

wastrel (weis´trэl) •n. 1 a person who wastes; esp., a spendthrift 2 GOOD-FOR-NOTHING [dim. of WASTER]

wat (wät) •n. a Buddhist monastic center in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia [Thai < Sans vāta, enclosed area]

watch (wäch, wöch) •n. 1 the act or fact of keeping awake, esp. of keeping awake and alert, in order to look after, protect, or guard 2 a) any of the several periods into which the night was divided in ancient times b) a part of the night {the still watches of the night} 3 a) close observation for a time, in order to see or find out something b) the act or process of vigilant, careful guarding {to keep watch over a house} 4 a person or group on duty, esp. at night, to protect or guard; lookout or guard 5 a) the period of duty of a guard b) the post of a guard 6 a small timepiece designed to be carried in the pocket or worn on the wrist, as a pendant, etc. 7 [Obs.] a) a vigil; wake b) vigilance 8 [Obs.] a candle marked off into sections, used for keeping time 9 [Obs.] a watchman's cry 10 Naut. a) any of the periods of duty (five of four hours, and two of two hours) into which the day is divided on shipboard, so that the work is shared among alternating shifts of the crew b) the part of the crew on duty during any such period c) a ship's chronometer •vi. 1 to stay awake, esp. at night, so as to pray and meditate 2 to stay awake and alert at night; care for or guard something at night 3 to be on the alert; be on the lookout 4 to look or observe, esp. attentively 5 to be looking or waiting attentively: with for {to watch for one's chance} •vt. 1 to guard 2 to keep looking at; observe carefully and constantly 3 to view mentally; keep informed about 4 to be on the alert for; wait for and look for {to watch one's chance} 5 to keep watch over or tend (a flock, a baby, etc.) on the watch watching; on the lookout, as for some thing or person expected Æ watch oneself to be careful, cautious, or discreet Æ watch out to be alert and on one's guard; be careful watch over to protect from harm or danger [ME wacche < OE wæcce < base of wacian: see WAKE¹]

watch and ward the act of watching as a sentinel: now chiefly in the titles of societies self-appointed as guardians of a community's morals

watch cap a closefitting, knitted wool cap of a kind worn by sailors during cold weather

watch chain a chain attached at one end to a pocket watch, with an ornament (or fob) or a fastener at the other end

watch fire a fire kept burning at night as a signal or for the use of those staying awake to watch, or guard

watch night a religious service held on New Year's Eve

watch pocket a small pocket, usually in a vest or trousers, for carrying a watch

watchband (-bænd') •n. a band of leather, metal, cloth, etc. for holding a watch on the wrist

watchcase (-keis') •n. the metal or plastic covering of a watch

watchdog (-dög') •n. 1 a dog kept to guard property, as by barking 2 a person or group that keeps watch in order to prevent waste, unethical practices, etc. •vt. to act as a watchdog over

watcher (-эr) •n. 1 a person who watches, esp. one who keeps watch beside a sick or dead person 2 a) an observer Æ b) a person authorized to keep watch at a polling place to detect irregularities

watchful (-fэl) •adj. 1 watching closely; vigilant; alert 2 characterized by vigilance 3 [Archaic] wakeful; unsleeping watch´ful·ly •adv. watch´ful·ness •n. SYN.—watchful is the general word implying a being observant and prepared, as to ward off danger or seize an opportunity [under the watchful eye of her guardian]; vigilant implies an active, keen watchfulness and connotes the immediate necessity for this [a vigilant sentry]; alert implies a quick intelligence and a readiness to take prompt action [alert to the danger that confronted them]; wide-awake more often implies an alertness to opportunities than to dangers and connotes an awareness of all the surrounding circumstances [a wide-awake young salesman]

watchmaker (-meik'эr) •n. a person who makes or repairs watches watch´mak'ing •n.

watchman (-mэn) pl. -men •n. 1 [Archaic] a person whose duty was to guard or police the streets at night 2 a person hired to guard a building or other property against thieves, vandals, or trespassers, esp. at night

watchtower (-tau'эr) •n. a high tower from which a sentinel watches for enemies, forest fires, etc.; lookout

watchword (-wørd') •n. 1 a password, or countersign 2 a word or phrase embodying a principle or precept, esp. as the slogan or cry of a group or party

water (wöt´эr, wät´-) •n. 1 the colorless, transparent liquid occurring on earth as rivers, lakes, oceans, etc., and falling from the clouds as rain: chemically a compound of hydrogen and oxygen, H2O, it freezes, forming ice, at 0°C (32°F) and boils, forming steam, at 100°C (212°F) 2 water in a specified form or amount, or occurring or distributed in a specified way, or for a specified use, as drinking, washing, etc. 3 [often pl.] a) a large body of water, as a river, lake, sea, etc. b) the part of the sea contiguous with a specified country, land mass, etc. or the parts away from this {international waters} c) any area in a body of water {the noisy waters at the rapids} d) the liquid substance of a body of water {the pond's still waters} 4 water with reference to a) its depth {ten feet of water at the dam} b) its displacement {a boat that draws six feet of water} c) its surface {above water, under water} d) its level in a sea, river, etc. {high water, low water} 5 [pl.] the water of mineral springs {to take the waters at Saratoga} 6 any body fluid or secretion, as urine, saliva, tears, gastric and pancreatic juices, etc.; specif., a) the fluid surrounding the fetus in pregnancy; amniotic fluid b) a watery fluid retained abnormally {water on the knee} 7 a solution of any substance in water {mineral water, ammonia water} 8 a) the degree of transparency and luster of a precious stone as a measure of its quality {a diamond of the first water} b) degree of quality or conformity to type {an artist of the first or purest water} 9 a wavy, lustrous finish given to linen, silk, rayon, etc., or to a metal surface 10 a watercolor painting 11 Finance a) a valuation wrongfully given to the assets of a business in excess of their real value b) an issue of capital stock which brings the face value of all the stock issued by a business to a figure higher than the actual value of its assets: now prohibited by SEC regulations •vt. [ME wateren < OE wæterian < the n.] 1 to supply with water; specif., a) to give (animals) water to drink b) to give water to (soil, crops, etc.) by sprinkling, pouring, or irrigating c) to bring water to (land) (said of a river, canal, etc.) d) to put water on by sprinkling, hosing, etc.; soak or moisten with water (often with down) e) to add water to so as to weaken; dilute {to water the milk} 2 to give a wavy luster to the surface of (silk, etc.) 3 Finance to issue (stock) so as to add illegally to the total face value without increasing assets to justify this valuation •vi. 1 to fill with tears: said of the eyes 2 to secrete or fill with saliva {his mouth watered at the sight of the roast} 3 to take on a supply of water 4 to drink water: said of animals •adj. 1 of or having to do with water 2 in or on water {water sports} 3 growing in or living on or near water {water plants, water birds} 4 a) operated by water {a water wheel} b) derived from running water {water power} 5 containing water or fluid {a water blister} 6 prepared with water, as for thinning or hardening by water by ship or boat hold water 1 to contain water without leaking 2 to remain sound, consistent, or logical, with no breaks or weaknesses {an argument that doesn't hold water} 3 to keep a boat at a standstill by holding the oars steady in the water like water lavishly; freely: said of money spent, etc. make one's mouth water to create a desire or appetite in one; be or seem tasty make water 1 to urinate: also pass water 2 to take in water, as through a leak: said of a boat, etc. test the water(s) to explore a possible course of action; approach initially water down to weaken the potency or effectiveness of water under the bridge (or over the dam) something not worth reexamining because it is in the past and finished [ME < OE wæter, akin to Ger wasser < IE *wodōr < *wed-, to wet (< base *awed-, to moisten, flow) > Gr hydōr, water, L unda, a wave, Russ voda, water, Ir uisce, water]

water bag 1 a bag designed to hold water, esp. one with tiny surface pores that allow evaporation, keeping the water cool 2 the fluid-filled amnion surrounding the fetus in human beings and other placental mammals

Water Bearer Aquarius, the constellation and eleventh sign of the zodiac

water bed a heavy vinyl bag filled with water and used as a bed or as a mattress in a special bed frame: also wa´ter·bed' •n.

water beetle any of various beetles that live in freshwater ponds and streams, sometimes having one or two pairs of swimming legs fringed and functioning as oars

water bird any swimming or wading bird

water biscuit a cracker made of water, flour, and often some shortening

water blister a blister containing a clear, watery fluid without pus or blood

water boatman any of a family (Corixidae) of hemipterous water bugs that swim about in ponds and streams by vigorous movement of the fringed, oarlike hind legs

water boy Æ 1 a boy who brings drinking water to workers, as in the fields Æ 2 an assistant who brings drinking water, towels, etc. to athletes during the timeouts of a contest

water brash heartburn with regurgitated fluid in the mouth

water buffalo a slow, powerful buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) native to S Asia, Malaya, and the Philippine Islands, having a pair of large, strong horns growing from the sides of the head: it likes to wallow in mud and is used as a draft animal

water bug 1 any of various hemipteran insects that live in fresh waters, including the backswimmers and the water boatmen Æ 2 loosely, CROTON BUG

water chestnut Æ 1 a) a Chinese sedge (Eleocharis dulcis) with erect, cylindrical leaves, growing in dense clumps in water b) the large, button-shaped, submerged tubers of this plant, used in Chinese cooking 2 a floating aquatic weed (Trapa natans) of the water-chestnut family, with black, hard, horned fruit, the seed of which is sometimes eaten

water chinquapin 1 a perennial American waterlily (Nelumbo lutea) with large, emersed, umbrella-shaped leaves and yellow flowers 2 its edible fruit

water clock a device for measuring time by the fall or flow of water; clepsydra

water closet TOILET (n. 4)

water cooler a device for cooling water, esp. by refrigeration, for drinking, as from a bubbler

water cure 1 HYDROPATHY 2 HYDROTHERAPY

water dog 1 any of various dogs characteristically fond of the water, esp. a hunting dog, as the American water spaniel, trained to retrieve waterfowl 2 any of several hunting dogs trained to retrieve waterfowl Æ 3 MUD PUPPY 4 [Colloq.] a person who is at home in or on the water; esp., an old, experienced sailor

water flea any of an order (Cladocera) of mostly freshwater branchiopods; esp., any of a genus (Daphnia) commonly found in ponds and used to feed fish in aquariums

water gap a break in a mountain ridge, with a stream flowing through it

water gas a fuel gas that is a poisonous mixture of hydrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen, made by forcing steam over incandescent coke or coal

water gate a gate controlling the flow of water; floodgate

water gauge 1 a gauge for measuring the level or flow of water in a stream or channel 2 a device, as a glass tube, that shows the water level in a tank, boiler, etc.

water glass 1 a) a drinking glass or goblet b) a glass container for water, etc. 2 WATER GAUGE (sense 2) 3 a glass-bottomed tube or box for looking at things under water 4 sodium silicate or, sometimes, potassium silicate, occurring as a stony powder, usually dissolved in water to form a colorless, syrupy liquid used as an adhesive, as a protective or waterproofing coat, as a preservative for eggs, etc. 5 WATER CLOCK Also wa´ter·glass' •n.

water gum Æ a tupelo tree (Nyssa biflora) with greenish-white flowers, purplish fruit, and a swollen, submerged trunk base, growing in swampy ground

water gun WATER PISTOL

water hammer 1 the hammering sound caused in a pipe containing water when live steam is passed through it 2 the thump of water in a pipe, caused by an air lock, when a faucet is suddenly closed

water hemlock any of a genus (Cicuta) of perennial plants of the umbel family, with compound umbels of small white flowers and intensely poisonous, tuberous roots, found in the Northern Hemisphere in moist places

water hen any of various birds (family Rallidae), including certain gallinules and the American coot (Fulica americana)

water hole 1 a dip or hole in the surface of the ground, in which water collects; pond or pool 2 a hole in the ice on a body of water

water hyacinth a South American aquatic plant (Eichhornia crassipes) of the pickerelweed family, with swollen petioles that float on water and spikes of showy lavender flowers: a pest that blocks water traffic in the S U.S., esp. Florida

water ice water and sugar flavored and frozen as a confection

water jacket an attached casing holding or circulating water around something to be cooled or kept at a constant temperature, esp. around or through the cylinder head and block of an internal-combustion engine

water jump a strip, ditch, or channel of water that a horse must jump, as in a steeplechase

water lettuce a floating aquatic plant (Pistia stratiotes) of the arum family, with rosettes of thick, blunt, velvety, ribbed leaves and a hanging mass of feathery roots

water level 1 a) the surface of still water b) the height of this 2 WATER TABLE 3 a leveling instrument containing water in a glass tube 4 WATERLINE (senses 1, 2, & 4)

water main a main pipe in a system of water pipes

water mass a large body of oceanic water usually identified by a well-defined relationship between temperature and salinity or chemical content: usually a mixture of two or more such bodies, each having a specified temperature and salinity

water meter an instrument that measures and records the amount of water flowing through a pipe, etc.

water milfoil any of a genus (Myriophyllum, family Haloragaceae) of graceful, feathery dicotyledonous plants (order Haloragales) growing under water: used in aquariums

water mill a mill whose machinery is driven by water

water moccasin a large, poisonous, olive-brown pit viper (Agkistrodon piscivorus) with dark crossbars, found along or in rivers and swamps in the SE U.S.; cottonmouth: often confused with various harmless snakes, esp. several water snakes (genus Natrix)

water nymph Gr. & Rom. Myth. any of the nymphs who dwell in streams, pools, lakes, etc.; naiad, Nereid, Oceanid, etc.

water oak an oak (Quercus nigra) of the SE U.S., found mainly along rivers, streams, etc.

water of crystallization water that occurs as a constituent of crystalline substances in a definite stoichiometric ratio: it can be removed from them by the application of heat at 100°C (212°F) and its loss usually results in a change in the crystalline structure

water of hydration water which is chemically combined with a substance to form a hydrate and which can be removed, as by heating

water ouzel DIPPER (sense 3), esp. a species (Cinclus mexicanus) of W North America

water parting WATERSHED (sense 1)

water pepper any of several polygonums growing in wet places and having an acrid juice, as smartweed

water pimpernel 1 either of two small, white-flowered plants (Samolus floribundus or S. valerandi) of the primrose family, usually found along the edges of brooks 2 scarlet pimpernel: see PIMPERNEL

water pipe 1 a pipe for carrying water 2 a kind of smoking pipe in which the smoke is drawn through water, as a hookah

water pistol a toy gun that shoots water in a stream

water plant any plant living submerged in water or with only the roots in or under water

water plantain any of a family (Alismataceae, order Alismatales) of hardy, monocotyledonous water plants with large, heart-shaped leaves and small, usually white, flowers

water polo a water game played with a round, partly inflated ball by two teams of seven swimmers, the object of the game being to pass or take the ball over the opponent's goal line

water power 1 the power of running or falling water, used to drive machinery, etc., or capable of being so used 2 a fall of water that can be so used 3 a water right or privilege owned by a mill Also wa´ter·pow'er •n.

water purslane 1 a red-stemmed trailing plant (Ludwigia palustris) of the evening-primrose family, found in watery or muddy places 2 a small aquatic plant (Peplis diandra) of the loosestrife family, with linear leaves