WEAR

Wear (war), n. 1. The act of wearing; the state of being worn; diminution by friction, use, time, or the like; as, this dress is not for daily wear; the wear and tear of a garment.-2. The thing worn; the style of dress; hence, the fashion; vogue. Motley's the only wear.' Shak.

Sir, your good worship, will you be my bail?
No, indeed, will I not, Pompey; it is not the wear.
Shak.

-Wear and tear, the loss by wearing; the waste, diminution, decay, or injury which anything sustains by ordinary use; as, the wear and tear of machinery; the wear and tear of furniture.

Wear (war), v. t. [A form of veer.] Naut. to bring on the other tack by turning the vessel round, stern toward the wind. Wear (wer), v.t. [O.E. were, weren, werie, from A. Sax. werian, to guard, to defend; Icel. verja, Dan. værge, Goth. warjan. Akin to wary.] [Scotch.] 1. To guard; to watch, as a gate, door, opening, &c, so that it is not entered.

I set him to wear the fore-door wi' the spear while I kept the back door wi' the lance.

Border Minstrelsy. 2. To ward off; to prevent from approaching or entering; as, to wear the wolf from the sheep.

Wear (wer), n. Same as Weir (which see). Wearable (war'a-bl), a. Capable of being worn; as, the clothes are wearable. Sometimes used substantively. Rejecting every wearable that comes from England. Swift. Wearer (wär'èr), n. 1. One who wears or carries as appendant to the body; as, the wearer of a cloak, a sword, or a crown. The wearer of Antonius' beard.' Shak.

Cowls, hoods, and habits, with their wearers tossed and fluttered into rags. Milton.

2. That which wastes or diminishes. Weariable (we'ri-a-bl), a. Capable of becoming wearied or fatigued. Quart. Rev. [Rare.]

Weariful (wĕ'ri-ful), a. Full of weariness; causing weariness; wearisome. [Rare.] Wearifully (we'ri-ful-li), adv. In a weariful manner; wearisomely. [Rare.] Weariless (we'ri-les), a. Incessant; unwearied. Weariless wing.' Hogg. [Rare.] Wearily (we'ri-li), adv. In a weary or tiresome manner; like one fatigued. 'You look wearily. Shak.

Weariness (wē'ri-nes), n. 1. The state of being weary or tired; that lassitude or exhaustion of strength which is induced by labour; fatigue. With weariness and wine oppress'd.' Dryden,

Weariness

Can snore upon the flint when resty sloth
Finds the down pillow hard.
Shak.

2. Uneasiness proceeding from monotonous continuance; tedium; ennui; languor. 'Till one could yield for weariness.' Tennyson. Wearing (wär'ing), a. Applied to what is worn; as, wearing apparel.

Wearing (wär'ing), n. That which one wears; clothes; garments.

Give me my nightly wearing and adieu! Shak. Wearisht (wer'ish),a. [Perhaps from weary, in meaning 4] 1. Wizen; withered; shrunk. 'A little, wearish old man, very melancholy by nature.' Burton.-2. Insipid; tasteless; washy.

Wearisome (we'ri-sum), a. [From weary.] Causing weariness; tiresome; tedious; fatiguing; irksome; monotonous; as, a wearisome march; a wearisome day's work. Wearisome nights are appointed to me. Job vii. 3.

The

Alas, the way is wearisome and long! Shak. Wearisomely (we'ri-sum-li), adv. In a wearisome manner; tediously; so as to cause weariness. Raleigh. Wearisomeness (we'ri-sum-nes), n. quality or state of being wearisome; tiresomeness; tediousness; as, the wearisomeness of toil or of waiting long in anxious expectation. 'Continual plodding and wearisomeness.' Milton.

Weary (we'ri), a. [A. Sax. wêrig, weary, O. Sax. wórig; according to Skeat from A. Sax. wór, a swampy place, the same word as wos, Mod. E. ooze, the word originally having reference to the fatigue of walking in wet.] 1. Having the strength much exhausted by toil or violent exertion; having the strength, endurance, patience, or the like, worn out; tired; fatigued. It is followed by of before the cause of fatigue or exhaustion; as, to be weary of marching; to be weary of reaping; to be weary of study. Let us not be weary in well-doing. Gal. vi. 9.

611

2. Impatient of the continuance of something painful, irksome, or the like; sick; disgusted.

Weary of the world, away she hies,
And yokes her silver doves.

Shak.

WEATHER-BITTEN

Shak.

How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable, Seem to me all the uses of this world. 4. Feeble; sickly; puny. Forby; Jamieson. [Provincial English andScotch. SYN. Tired, fatigued, disgusted, sick, tiresome, irksome, wearisome.

Weary (we'ri), v.t. pret. & pp. wearied; ppr. wearying. [From the adjective.] 1. To make weary; to reduce or exhaust the physical strength or endurance of; to tire; to fatigue; as, to weary one's self with labour or travelling.

The people shall weary themselves for very vanity. Hab. ii. 13. 2. To exhaust the patience of; to make impatient of continuance.

Shak.

Milton.

I stay too long by thee; I weary thee. 3. To harass by anything irksome. I would not cease To weary him with my assiduous cries. -To weary out, to subdue or exhaust by fatigue or by anything irksome. 'Me overwatch'd and wearied out.' Milton.-SYN. TO tire, fatigue, exhaust, harass, jade, fag, dispirit.

Weary (we'ri), v.i. To become weary; to tire; to become impatient of continuance. Sing the simple passage o'er and o'er For all an April morning, till the ear Wearies to hear it. Tennyson. Weary (we'ri), n. [A. Sax. werg, a curse. See WARY, to curse.] A curse. Used now only in the phrases Weary fa' you!' Weary on you!' and the like. Sir W. Scott. [Scotch.] Wearyfu' (we'ri-fu), a. Causing pain; calamitous. Sir W. Scott. [Scotch.] Weasand (we'zand), n. [A. Sax. wesend, wasend, the windpipe; O. Fris. wasende, O. H. G. weisunt; perhaps, as Wedgwood thinks, named from the wheezing sound made in breathing. See WHEEZE.] The windpipe or trachea; the canal through which air passes to and from the lungs. Written also Wesand, Wezand, and Weazand. Spenser; Shak.; Wiseman. Weasel (we'zl), n. [A. Sax. wesle, D. wezel, Dan. væsel, G. wiesel, O. H. G. wisala, weasel. Etym. doubtful.] 1. A name common to the digitigrade carnivorous animals belonging to the genus Mustela, family Mustelidæ. The true weasels are distinguished by the length and slenderness of their bodies; the feet are short, the toes separate, and the claws sharp. The common weasel (M. vulgaris) is a native of almost all the temperate

Common Weasel (Mustela vulgaris).

and cold parts of the northern hemisphere, and is one of the best known British quadrupeds. It is the smallest of the Mustelidæ of the Old World, measuring about 24 inches in height, about 7 in length, with a tail about 2 inches long. The body is extremely slender and arched, the head small and flattened, the neck very long, the legs short, and also the tail. It is of a reddish-brown colour above, white beneath; tail of the same colour as the body. It feeds on mice, rats, moles, and small birds, and is often useful as a destroyer of vermin in ricks, barns, and granaries. Among other well-known species are the polecat (M. putorius), the ferret (M. furo), the ermine (M. erminea), and the sable (M. zibellina).

I can suck melancholy out of a song, as a weasel sucks eggs. Shak.

2. A lean, mean, sneaking, greedy fellow.

The weasel Scot Comes sneaking, and so sucks her princely eggs. Shak Weasel-coot (we'zl-köt), n. A bird, the red-headed smew, or Mergus minutus mus. telinus.

condition of being weasy. Joye. Weasyt (we'zi), a. [Lit. wheezing, or breathing hard, from being puffed up with good living.] Gluttonous. Joye. Weather (weTH'er), n. [A. Sax. weder, wœder, D. and L. G. weder, Icel. vedr, Sw. väder, G. wetter, O.H.G. wetar; cog. Bulg. vjetr, Lith. wettra, weather; supposed to be from same root as wind.] 1. A general term for the atmospheric conditions; the state of the air or atmosphere with respect to its temperature, pressure, humidity, electrification, motions, or any other meteorological phenomena; as, warm weather; cold weather; wet weather; dry weather; calm weather; tempestuous weather; fair weather; cloudy weather; hazy weather, and the like. The investigation of the various causes which determine the state of the atmosphere, and produce those changes which are incessantly taking place in its condition, forms the subject of meteorology.-2. Change of the state of the air; meteorological change; hence, fig. vicissitude; change of condition.

It is a reverend thing to see an ancient castle not in decay: how much more to behold an ancient family which have stood against the waves and weathers of time. Bacon.

3.† Storm; tempest. 'What gusts of weather from that gathering cloud!' Dryden.-4.t A light rain; a shower. Wickliffe.-5. The inclination or obliquity of the sails of a windmill to the plane of revolution.-To make fair weather,t to flatter; to make flattering representations to some one; to conciliate another by fair words and a show of friendship.

I must make fair weather yet awhile Till Henry be more weak and I more strong. Shak. -To make good weather (naut.), to behave well in a storm; to ship little water.-To make bad weather (naut.), to behave ill in a storm; to ship much water: said of a vessel.

Weather (weTH'èr), v. t. 1. To air; to expose to the air. [Rare.]

Like to an eagle soaring to weather his broad sails. Spenser. 2. Naut. (a) to sail to the windward of; as, to weather a cape; to weather another ship. We weathered Pulo Pare on the 29th, and stood in for the main. Cook.

(b) To bear up against and come through, though with difficulty: said of a ship in a storm, as also of its captain or pilot; as, to weather a gale or storm.

Here's to the pilot that weathered the storm. Canning. 3. To bear up against and overcome, as danger or difficulty; to sustain the effects of; to come out of, as a trial, without permanent injury.

You will weather the difficulties yet. F.W.Robertson. 4. In geol. to disintegrate and waste or wear away; as, the atmospheric agencies that weather rocks.

Geologists speak of the fresh fracture in contradistinction to the weathered surface. Page.

-To weather a point, (a) naut, to gain a point toward the wind, as a ship. (b) To gain or accomplish anything against opposition. To weather out, to endure; to hold out to the end.

When we have pass'd these gloomy hours, And weather'd out the storm that beats upon us. Addison. Weather (weтH'èr), v.i. In geol. to suffer change, disintegration, or waste, by exposure to the weather or atmosphere, as a rock or cliff.

Weather (weтH'er), a. Naut. toward the wind; windward: a frequent element in compound words; as, weather-bow, weatherbeam, weather-gage, weather-quarter, &c. Weather-anchor (weTH'èr-ang-ker), n. The anchor lying to windward, by which a ship rides when moored. Weather-beaten (wеTH'er-bēt-n), a. [Perhaps originally this word was weather-bitten.] Beaten or harassed by the weather; having been seasoned by exposure to every kind of weather; as, a weather-beaten sailor. Like a weather-beaten vessel, holds Gladly the port, though shrouds and tackle torn. Milton. Weather-bitten (weTH'êr-bit-n), a. Worn or defaced by exposure to the weather. 'A weather-bitten conduit.' Shak.

WEATHER-BLOWN

Weather-blown (weTH'èr-blön), a. Weather-beaten; exposed. Chapman. Weather-board (weTH'er-bord), n. 1. Naut. (a) that side of a ship which is toward the wind; the windward side. (b) A piece of plank placed in the ports of a ship when laid up in ordinary, and serving as a protection from bad weather. Weather-boards are fixed in an inclined position, so as to turn off the rain without preventing the circulation of air.-2. A board used in wea ther-boarding (which see).

Weather-board (werH'er-bord), v.t. To nail boards upon, as a roof, lapping one over another, in order to prevent rain, snow, &c., from penetrating them.

Weather-boarding (wеTH'èr-bord-ing), n. Boards nailed with a lap on each other, to prevent the penetration of the rain and snow, used in roofs, &c.

Weather-bound (weTH'er-bound), a. Delayed by bad weather.

Weather-bow (weTH'ér-bo), n. The side of a ship's bow that is to windward. Weather-box (weTH'ér-boks), n. A kind of hygrometer, usually in the shape of a toy. house, in which certain mechanical results from the weight or flexure of materials due to dampness, are made to move a figure or pair of figures-a man and a woman on a poised arm, for instance, so that the former advances from his porch in wet, and the latter in dry weather. Called also Weatherhouse.

The elder and younger son of the house of Crawley were, like the gentleman and lady in the weatherbox, never at home together. Thackeray. Weather-cloth (wеTH'er-kloth), n. Naut. a long piece of canvas or tarpauling used to preserve the hammocks from injury by the weather when stowed, or to defend persons from the wind and spray.

Weathercock (wеTH'er-kok), n. 1. A vane or weather-vane; a figure on the top of a spire or the like which turns with the wind and shows its direction: so called because the figure of a cock, as an emblem of vigilance, had long been a favourite form of vane. Shak.-2. Any thing or person that turns easily and frequently; a fickle, inconstant person.

The word which I have given shall stand like fate, Not like the king's, that weathercock of state. Dryden. Weathercock (wеTH'èr-kok), v t. To serve as a weathercock to or upon. 'Whose blazing wyvern weathercock'd the spire.' Tennyson.

Weather-driven(weтH'er-driv-n),a. Driven by winds or storms; forced by stress of weather.

Weathered (wеTH'èrd), p. and a. 1. In geol. wasted, worn away, or discoloured by exposure to the influences of the atmosphere: said of stones or rock surfaces.-2. In arch. a term applied to surfaces which have a small slope or inclination given to them to prevent water lodging on them, as window-sills, the tops of classic cornices, and the upper surface of most flat stone-work. Weather-eye (weтH'èr-i), n. The eye that looks at the sky to forecast the weather.To keep one's weather-eye open or awake, to be vigilantly on one's guard; to have one's wits about one.

Keep your weather eye awake, and don't make any more acquaintances, however handsome. Dickens. Weather-fend (weTH'er-fend), v.t. To shelter; to defend from the weather. line-grove which weather-fends your cell.' Shak.

• The

Weather-gage (wеTH'er-gaj), n. 1. Naut. the advantage of the wind; the stage or situation of one ship to the windward of another.

A ship is said to have the weather-gage of another when she is at the windward of her.. Admiral Smyth.

612

Weather-gleam (weTH'er-glēm), n. A peculiar clear sky near the horizon. [Provincial English.]

The weather-gleam of the eastern hills began to be tinged with the brightening dawn. Edin. Mag. You have marked the lighting of the sky just above the horizon when clouds are about to break up and disappear. Whatever name you gave it you would hardly improve on that of the weathergleam,' which in some of our dialects it bears. Trench. Weather-hardened (weтH'er-härd'nd), a. Hardened by the weather; weather-beaten. 'A countenance which, weather-hardened as it was.' Southey.

Weather-headed (weTH'er-hed-ed), a. Having a sheepish look: probably a corruption of wether-headed. Sir W. Scott. Weather-helm (weTH'er-helm), n. A ship is said to carry a weather-helm when, owing to her having a tendency to gripe, the helm requires to be kept a little to windward, or a-weather, in order to prevent her head from coming up in the wind while sailing closehauled.

Weather-house (weTH'èr-hous), n. See Weathering (weTH'er-ing), n. 1. In geol. the WEATHER-BOX.

action of the elements on a rock in altering its colour, texture, or composition, or in rounding off its edges, or in gradually disintegrating it.-2. In arch. the inclination given to a surface so as to enable it to throw off the water.

Weatherly (weTH'er-li), a. Naut. applied to a ship when she holds a good wind, that is, when she presents so great a lateral resistance to the water while sailing closehauled that she makes very little leeway. Weathermost (weTH'er-most), a. Being furthest to the windward.

Weather-moulding (werH'èr-mold-ing), n. In arch. a dripstone or canopy over a door or window, intended to throw off the rain. Weatherology (weTH-ér-ol'o-ji), n. A humorously coined word, meaning the science of the weather.

Byron.

My Muse a glass of weatherology: For parliament is our barometer. Weather-proof (weTH'èr-prof), a. Proof against rough weather. Weather-prophet (wеTH'er-prof-et), n. One who foretells weather; one skilled in foreseeing the changes or state of the weather. [Colloq.]

Weather-quarter (weTH'er-kwar-tér), n. The quarter of a ship which is on the windward side.

Weather-roll (weTH'èr-rol), n. The roll of a ship to the windward, in a heavy sea, upon the beam: opposed to lee-lurch. Weather-shore (weTH'er-shōr), n. The shore which lies to windward of a ship. Weather-side (weTH'ér-sid), n. Naut. that side of a ship under sail upon which the wind blows, or which is to windward. Weather-spy (wеTH'er-spi), n. A star-gazer; one that foretells the weather; a weatherprophet. Donne. [Rare.]

Weather-strip (weTH'ér-strip), n. A piece of board or other material which closes accurately the space between a shut door and the threshold.

Weather-tide (weTH'er-tid), n. The tide which sets against the lee-side of a ship, impelling her to the windward.

Weather-vane (weTH'èr-van), n. A vane, erected on a steeple or other elevated place, which, by turning under the influence of the wind, shows the quarter it blows from; a weather-cock.

Weather-wise (weTH'èr-wiz), a. Skilful in foreseeing the changes or state of the weather.

Weatherwisert (weTH'er-wiz-ér), n. Something that foreshows the weather.

The flowers of pimpernel, the opening and shutting of which are the countryman's weatherwiser.

Derham.

Were the line

Sir W. Scott. Same as

Of Rokeby once combined with mine I gain the weather-gage of fate. Weather-gall (wеTH'ér-gal), n. Water-gall

Weather-gauge (weTH'er-gaj), n.

Same

as Weather-gage. Young's Naut. Dict. Weather-glass (weTH'er-glas), n. An instrument to indicate the state of the atmosphere. This word is generally applied to the barometer, but it is also applied to other instruments for measuring atmospheric changes, and indicating the state of the weather, as the thermometer, hygrometer, manometer, anemometer, and the like.

by the action of the weather; weathered. Weave (wěv), v. t. pret. wove; ppr. weaving; pp. woven, wove; pret. & pp. formerly often weaved. [A. Sax. wefan, pret. waf, pp. wefen; D. weven, Icel vefa, Dan. væve, G. weben, to weave; cog. Skr. vap, to weave. Akin web, waft; perhaps wave.] 1. To form by interlacing anything flexible, such as threads, yarns, filaments, or strips of different materials; to form by texture, or by inserting one part of the material within another; as, to weave cloth; to weave baskets. (See WEAVING.) Where the women wove hangings for the grove.' 2 Kings xxiii. 8. And now his woven girths he breaks asunder.

Shak.

2. To become woven or interwoven. "The amorous vine which in the elm still weaves W. Browne.-3 In the manege, to make a motion of the head, neck, and body from side to side like the shuttle of a weaver: said of a horse.

Weave,t v. To wave; to float. Spener. Weaver (wev'èr), n. 1. One who weaves; one whose occupation is to weave.

Weavers were supposed to be generally good singers. Their trade, being sedentary, they had an opportunity of practising, and sometimes in parts. ... Many of the weavers in Queen Elizabeth's days were Flemish Calvinists, who fled from the perseca tion of the Duke of Alva, and were therefore partic larly given to singing psalms.... Hence the excla mation of Falstaff.

I would I were a weaver! I could sing psalms, and all manner of songs. Narts.

[The correct reading is 'sing psalms or anything."-2. One of the aquatic insects of the genus Gyrinus; the whirlwig (which see).3. A name given to insessorial birds of various genera, belonging to the conirostral section of the order, and forming a group or sub-family (Ploceina) of the Fringillidae or finches. They are so called from

Yellow-crowned Weaver and Nest (Pideracephala).

the remarkable structure of their nests, which are woven in a very wonderful manner of various vegetable substances. Some species build their nests separate and singly. and hang them from slender branches of trees and shrubs, but others build in companies, numerous nests suspended from the branches of a tree being under one roof. though each one forms a separate compart ment and has a separate entrance. They are natives of the warmer parts of Asia, of Africa, and of Australia, none being found in Europe or America The Ploces ictero cephalus, or yellow-crowned weaver, is a native of South Africa, and constructs an isolated pensile kidney-shaped nest, about 7 inches long by 44 broad, with an opening in the side. Naturalists are not quite agreed

Webby (web'i), a. Relating to a web; resembling a web.

Crabbe.

Bats on their webby wings in darkness move. Web-eye (web'ī), n. In pathol. a disease of the eye produced by a film suffusing it; caligo.

Weaver's-shuttle (wēv-érz-shut'l), n. A species of gasteropodous Mollusca (Ovulum volva), in which the aperture is produced into a long canal at each end; it belongs to the same family as the cowries. Weaving (wēv'ing), n. The act of one who weaves; the act or art of producing cloth or other textile fabrics by means of a loom from the combination of threads or filaments. In all kinds of weaving, whether plain or figured, one system of threads, called the woof or weft, is made to pass alternately under and over another system of threads called the warp, web, or chain. The essential operations are the successive raising of certain threads of the warp and the depression of others so as to form a decussation or shed for the passage of the weft yarn, which is then beaten up by means of a lay or batten. Weaving is performed by the hand in what are called handlooms, or by steam in what are called powerlooms, but the general arrangements for both are to a certain extent the same. (See Looм, JACQUARD.) Weaving, in the most general sense of the term, comprehends not only those textile fabrics which are prepared in the loom, but also net-work, lace-work, &c. Weazen (we'zn), a. [Icel. visinn, wizened, withered; Sw. and Dan. vissen, withered. See WIZEN.] Thin; lean; withered; wizened; as, a weazen face. His shadowy figure and dark weazen face.' Irving.

Dickens.

MI

The third was little weazen drunken-looking body with a pimply face. Web (web), n. [A. Sax. web, webb, from the stem of weave. See WEAVE.] 1. That which is woven; the whole piece of cloth woven in a loom; locally, (a) a piece of linen cloth. (b) The warp in a loom.-2. Something resembling a web or sheet of cloth; specifically, a large roll of paper such as is used in the web-press for newspapers and the like. 3. A plain, flat surface, as (a) a sheet or thin plate of lead. Christian slain roll up in webs of lead.' Fairfax. (b) The blade of a sword. "The sword whereof the web was steel.' Fairfax. (c) The blade of a saw. (d) The plate, or its equivalent in a beam or girder which connects the upper and lower flat or laterally extending plates (fig. b). (e) The corresponding portion of a rail between the tread and foot (fig. c). (f) The flat portion of a wheel, as of a railway carriage between the nave and the rim, occupying the space where spokes would be in an ordinary wheel (fig. a). (g) The Web in cross solid part of the bit of a key. (h) That portion of an anvil which is of reduced size below the head. (i) The thin sharp part of the coulter of a plough.-4. The membrane which unites the toes of many water-fowl; a similar membrane possessed by other animals, as the ornithorhynchus. Rev. J. G. Wood.-5. The plexus of very delicate threads or filaments which a spider spins, and which serves as a net to catch flies or other insects for its food; a cobweb.

section.

-Pin and web. See PIN, 8. Web (web), v. t. pret. & pp. webbed; ppr. webbing. To cover with or as with a web; to envelop.

Webbe,t n. [A. Sax. webba.] A webber; a weaver. Chaucer.

Webbed (webd), a. Having the toes united by a membrane or web; as, the webbed feet of aquatic fowls.

Webbert (web'ér), n. A weaver. Webbing (web'ing), n. A strong fabric of hemp 2 or 3 inches wide, made for supporting the seats of stuffed chairs, sofas, &c.

He was, it is said, web-footed naturally, and partially web-fingered. Mayhew. Web-foot (web'fut), n. A foot whose toes are united by a web or membrane. Web-footed (web'fut-ed), a. Having webfeet; palmiped; as, a goose or duck is a web-footed fowl.

Web-press (web'pres), n. A printing-machine which takes its paper from the web or roll: much used in newspaper and such like printing.

Webstert (web'stèr), n.

[For the rationale

of the suffix see -STER.] A weaver. Websterite (web'ster-it), n. [After Webster, a geologist.] Aluminite; hydrous tribasic sulphate of aluminium, found in Sussex, and at Halle in Prussia, in reniform masses and botryoidal concretions of a white or yellowish-white colour. Wecht (wecht), n. [A. Sax. wegan, to lift. See WEIGH.] An instrument in the form of a sieve, but without holes, used for lifting corn. Burns. [Scotch.]

Wed (wed), v.t. pret. & pp. wedded; ppr. wedding; wed as pret. & pp. also occurs. [A. Sax. weddian, to engage, to promise, to pledge, from wedd, a pledge; similarly Goth. (ga)vadjan, to pledge, to betroth, from vadi, a pledge. Akin gage, wage, wager.] 1. To marry; to take for husband or for wife.

Wed (wed), v.i. To marry; to contract matrimony. When shall I wed?' Shak. Wed, Weddet (wed), n. [See above.] A pawn or pledge.

Wedded (wed'ed), a. 1. Pertaining to matrimony; as, wedded life; wedded bliss.2. Intimately united or joined together; buckled together.

Then fled to her inmost bower, and there
Unclasped the wedded eagles of her belt.
Tennyson.

Wedder (wed'ér), n. A castrated ram; a wether. Sir W. Scott.

Wedding (wed'ing), n. Marriage; nuptials; nuptial ceremony; nuptial festivities.-Silver wedding, golden wedding, diamond wedding, the celebrations of the twentyfifth, the fiftieth, and the sixtieth anniversaries of a wedding.-Marriage, Wedding, Nuptials, Matrimony, Wedlock. See under MARRIAGE.

Wedding (wed'ing), a. Of, pertaining to, or used at a wedding or weddings; as, wedding cheer; wedding garment; wedding sheets; wedding torch.' Shak. Wedding-bed (wed'ing-bed), n. The bed of a newly married pair. Shak. Wedding-cake (wed'ing-kak), n. A richly decorated cake to grace a wedding. It is cut and distributed during the breakfast, and portions of it are sent afterwards to friends not present.

Wedding-card (wed'ing-kärd), n. One of a set of cards bearing the names and address of a newly married couple, usually printed in silver or tied together with silver cord and sent to friends to announce the event, and stating when they receive return calls. Wedding-clothes (wed'ing-klŌTHZ), n. pl. Garments for a bride or a bridegroom to be worn at marriage.

Wedding-day (wed'ing-da), n. The day of marriage.

Wedding-dower (wed'ing-dou-ér), n. A marriage portion. Let her beauty be her wedding-dower.' Shak.

WEDGE-SHAPED

Wedding-favour (wed'ing-fă-vér), n. A bunch of white ribbons, or a rosette, &c., worn by males attending a wedding. Simmonds.

Wedding-feast (wed'ing-fest), n. A feast or entertainment prepared for the guests at a wedding.

Wedding-ring (wed'ing-ring), n. A plain gold ring placed by the bridegroom on the third finger of the bride's left hand at the marriage ceremony.

Wede, n. [A. Sax. wæd, a garment. See WEED.] Clothing; apparel. Chaucer. Wedge (wej), n. [A. Sax. wecg, a mass, a wedge; Icel. vegr, Dan. vægge, Sw. vigg, D. weg, O.G. wecke, wedge, possibly from the same root as wag, way, weigh, and signifying lit. the mover.] 1. A piece of wood or metal, thick at one end and sloping to a thin edge at the other, used in splitting wood, rocks, &c. The wedge is a body con

tained under two triangular and three rectangular surfaces, as in the figure, where the triangles ABE, DCF are the ends, the rectangles ADEF, BCEF the sides, and the rectangle ABDC the top. The wedge is one of the mechanical powers, and is used for splitting blocks of timber and stone; for producing great pressure, as in the oil-press; and for raising immense weights, as when a ship is raised by wedges driven under the keel, &c. If the power applied to the top were of the nature of a continued pressure, the wedge might be regarded as a double inclined plane, and the power would be to the resistance to be overcome, as the breadth of the back, DC, to the length of the side, DF, on the supposition that the resistance acts perpendicularly to the side. But since the power is usually that of percussion with a hammer, every stroke of which causes a tremor in the wedge, which throws off for the instant the resistance on its sides, no certain theory can be laid down regarding it. To calculate the power, we require the additional elements of weight of the hammer, momentum of the blow, and the intervals between the blows, and further, the amount of tremor in the wedge and its antagonism to the resistance on the sides. All that is known with certainty respecting the theory of the wedge is that its mechanical power is increased by diminishing the angle of penetration D F C. All cutting and penetrating instruments, as knives, swords, chisels, razors, axes, nails, pins, needles, &c., may be considered as wedges. The angle of the wedge in these cases is more or less acute, according to the purposes to which it is to be applied.-2. A mass of metal, especially if resembling a wedge in form. 'A wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight.' Josh. vii. 21. Wedges of gold, great anchors, heaps of pearls.' Shak.-3. Something in the form of a wedge.

See how in warlike muster they appear,
In rhombs, and wedges, and half-moons, and wings.
Milton.

The thin or small end of the wedge, is used figuratively of an initiatory move of small apparent importance, but which is calculated to produce or lead to an ultimate important effect.

Wedge (wej), v.t. pret. & pp. wedged; ppr. wedging. 1. To cleave with a wedge or with wedges; to rive.

My heart

Shak

As wedged with a sigh, would rive in twain.
2. To drive as a wedge is driven; to crowd
or compress closely.

Among the crowd i' the Abbey; where a finger
Could not be wedged in more.
Shak

3. To force, as a wedge forces its way; as, to wedge one's way. Milton.-4. To fasten with a wedge or with wedges; as, to wedge on a scythe; to wedge in a rail or a piece of timber.-5. To fix in the manner of a wedge. Wedg'd in the rocky shoals, and sticking fast. Dryden. Wedge (wej), n. In Cambridge university, the name given to the man whose name stands lowest on the list of the classical tripos: said to be after the name (Wedgewood) of the man who occupied this place on the first list (1828). See Wooden Spoon under SPOON. Wedge-shaped (wej'shäpt), a. 1. Having the shape of a wedge; cuneiform.-2. In bot, applied to a leaf broad and truncate at the summit, and tapering down to the base, as in Saxifraga cuneifolia. See CUNEATE.

WEDGE-WISE

Wedge-wise (wej'wiz), adv. In the manner of a wedge.

Wedgwood-ware (wej'wyd-wår), n. [After Josiah Wedgwood (1730-1795) of Etruria, Staffordshire, the inventor.] A superior kind of semivitrified pottery, without much superficial glaze, and capable of taking on the most brilliant and delicate colours produced by fused metallic oxides and ochres. It is much used for ornamental ware, as vases, &c., and, owing to its hardness and property of resisting the action of all corrosive substances, for mortars in the laboratory. Wedgy (wej'i), a. Wedge-shaped. 'Pushed his wedgy snout far within the straw subjacent. Landor.

Wedlock (wed 'lok), n. [O.E. wedlok, wedlaike, A. Sax. wedlac, a pledge, from wed, a pledge, and lac, sport, also a gift. The term refers to the old custom of the bridegroom making the bride a present the morning after marriage.] 1. Marriage; matrimony. Which that men clepen spousaille or wedlok.' Chaucer.

Milton.

I prayed for children, and thought barrenness In wedlock a reproach. Sometimes used adjectivally. Holy wedlock vow.' Shak. 'Happy wedlock hours.' Shak.-2.t Wife.

Which of these is thy wedlock, Menelaus? thy Helen? thy Lucrece! B. Jonson.

Wedlock (wed 'lok), v.t. To unite in marriage; to marry. Man thus wedlocked.' Milton.

Wednesday (wenz'dā), n. [A. Sax. Wodnes dag, that is Woden's day. Woden is the same as Odin. See ODIN.] The fourth day of the week; the next day after Tuesday. Wee (we), a. [Formerly it was used as a noun; a little we' a little way, a little bit. 'I believe (as Junius did) that it is nothing but the Scandinavian form of E. way, derived from Dan. vei, Sw. väg, Icel. vegr, a way. That the constant association of little with we (way) should lead to the supposition that the words little and wee are synonymous seems natural enough.' Skeat.] Small; little. [Colloq. English and Scotch.] He hath but a little wee face, with a little yellow beard. Shak

Wee (we), n. A short period of time; also, a short distance. [Scotch.]

Hear me, auld Hangie, for a wee. Burns. Weed (wěd), n. [A. Sax. weód, a weed; D. wiede, weeds, wieden, to weed, to cleanse; affinities doubtful.] 1. The general name of any plant that is useless or troublesome. The word therefore has no definite application to any particular plant or species of plants, but is applied generally to such plants as grow where they are not wanted, and are either of no use to man or injurious to crops.-2. Some useless or troublesome substance, especially such as is mixed with or injurious to more valuable substances; anything valueless or trashy. Hence-3. A sorry, worthless animal unfit for the breeding of stock; especially, a leggy, loose-bodied horse; a race-horse having the appearance, but wanting the other qualities of a thoroughbred.

He bore the same relation to a man of fashion, that a weed does to a winner of the Derby. Lever.

4. A cigar; as, come and smoke a quiet weed with me; to carry a few weeds in one's pocket. [Slang.] Prefixed by the definite article tobacco. He knocked the weed from his pipe.' Ld. Lytton. [Slang.] Weed (wed), v.t. 1. To free from weeds or noxious plants; as, to weed corn or onions; to weed a garden.-2. To take away, as noxious plants; to remove what is injurious, offensive, or unseemly; to extirpate.

Each word thou'st spoke hath weeded from my heart A root of ancient envy. Shak.

3. To free from anything hurtful or offensive.

He weeded the Kingdom of such as were devoted to Elaiana. Howell.

Weed (wed), n. [A. Sax. wæd, wæde, a garment, O. Fris. wed, wede, D. (ge)waad, Icel. vád, O.H.G. wat, clothing, a garment; from same root as Goth. ga-vidan, to bind, and as E. weave, withy.] 1. A garment; an article of clothing Lowly shepherd's weeds.' Spenser. Palmer's weeds. Milton. This silken rag, this beggar-woman's weed.' Tennyson. 2. An upper or outer garment. 'His own hands putting on both shirt and weede.' Chapman. [Nares thinks that the word always implies an outer garment.] --3. An article of dress worn in token of mourning; mourning garb; mournings. In a mourning

614

weed, with ashes upon her head, and tears abundantly flowing. Milton. In this sense used now in the plural, and more specifically applied to the mourning dress of a widow.

A widow's weeds are still spoken of, meaning her appropriate mourning dress. Nares.

Weed (wed), n. A general name for any

sudden illness from cold or relapse, usually accompanied by febrile symptoms, taken by females after confinement or during nursing. [Scotch.]

Weeded (wěd'ed), a. Overgrown with weeds. [Rare or poetical.]

Weeded and worn the ancient thatch

Upon the lonely moated grange. Tennyson. Weeder (wêd'ér), n. 1. One that weeds or frees from anything noxious. 'A weeder out of his proud adversaries.' Shak.-2. A weeding-tool.

Weeder-clips (wēd'èr-klips), n. pl. Weedingshears. Burns.

Weedery (wed'èr-i), n. 1. Weeds. [Rare.]
The weedery which through

The interstices of those neglected courts
Unchecked had flourished long, and seeded there,
Was trampled then and bruised beneath the feet.
Southey.

Overgrown

2. A place full of weeds. [Rare.] Weed-grown (wēd'grōn), a. with weeds. Weed-hook (wēd'hök), n. A hook used for cutting away or extirpating weeds. Tusser. Weeding-chisel (wed'ing-chiz-el), n. A tool with a divided chisel point for cutting the roots of large weeds within the ground. Weeding-forceps (wēd'ing-for-seps), n. pl. An instrument for pulling up some sorts of plants in weeding, as thistles. Weeding-fork (wed'ing-fork), n. A strong three-pronged fork, used in clearing ground of weeds.

Same as

Weeding-hook (wēd'ing-hök), n.
Weed-hook. Milton.
Weeding-iron (wèd'ing-i-érn), n. Same as
Weeding-fork.

Weeding-pincers (wēd'ing-pin-sèrz), n. pl.
Same as Weeding-forceps.
Weeding-rhim (wed ́ing-rim), n. [Comp.
Prov. E. rim, O. E. rimen, remen, to re-
move.] An implement somewhat like the
frame of a wheel-barrow, used for tearing
up weeds on summer fallows, &c. [Local.]
Weeding-shears (wed'ing-shērz), n. pl.
Shears used for cutting weeds.
Weeding-tongs (wed'ing-tongz), n. pl. Same
as Weeding-forceps.

Weeding-tool (wěd'ing-töl), n. An implement for pulling up, digging up, or cutting weeds.

Weedless (wēd'les), a. Free from weeds or noxious matter. Weedless paradises.' Donne.

་

Weedy (wed'i), a. 1. Consisting of weeds;
as, weedy trophies.' Shak. Nettles, kex,
and all the weedy nation.' G. Fletcher.-
2. Abounding with weeds; as, weedy grounds;
a weedy garden; weedy corn. Rough lawns
and weedy avenues.' W. Irving.-3. Not of
good blood, or of good strength or mettle;
hence, worthless, as for breeding or racing
purposes; as, a weedy horse.
Weedy (wed'i), a. Clad in weeds or widow's
mournings. [Rare and humorous.]

She was as weedy as in the early days of her mourn.
Dickens.

ing. Week (wek), n. [O.E. weke, wike, A. Sax. wice; D. week, Icel. vika, a week. Origin and further connections doubtful.] The space of seven days; the space from one Sunday to another; a cycle of time which has been used from the earliest ages in Eastern countries, and is now universally adopted over the Christian and Mohammedan worlds. It has been commonly regarded as a memorial of the creation of the world in that space of time. It is besides the most obvious and convenient division of the lunar or natural month.-This (that) day week, the same day a week afterwards; the corresponding day in the succeeding week.

Charlotte Bronte.

This day week you will be alone. -Passion week, the week containing Good Friday. The feast of weeks, a Jewish festival lasting seven weeks, that is, a 'week of weeks' after the Passover. It corresponds to our Pentecost or Whitsuntide.-A prophetic week, in Scrip. a week of years or seven years. Week-day (wek'dā), n. Any day of the week except the Sabbath.

One solid dish his week-day meal affords,
An added pudding solemnized the Lord's. Pope.

WEEPFUL

Weekly (wekli), a. 1. Pertaining to a week or week-days.-2. Continuing or lasting for a week; produced within a week.-3. Coming, happening, or done once a week; hebdomadary; as, a weekly payment of bills; a weekly gazette; a weekly allowance. Weekly (wek'li), adv. Once a week; by hebdomadal periods; as, each performs service weekly.

Weekly (wek'li), n. A periodical, as a newspaper, appearing once a week. Weelt (wel), n. [O.E. wêl, wele, A. Sax. wal, O.D. wael; allied to well.] A whirlpool Weel, Weelyt (wěl, wel'i), n. [Weel is short for weely, willy, so called because made of willows.] A kind of twiggen trap or snare for fish. 'Eels in weelies.' Rich. Carew.

Weel (wel), a. or adv. Well. [Scotch.] Weem (wem), n. An earth-house (which see). [Scotch.]

Ween (wên), v.i. [A. Sax. wênan, to ween, from wen, Icel. ván, Goth. vens, expectation, hope.] To be of opinion; to have the notion; to think; to imagine; to fancy. [Obsolescent and poetical.]

Then furthest from her hope, when most she werned nigh. Spenser.

His tones were black with many a crack,
All black and bare, I ween.

Coleridge.

Though never a dream the roses sent Of science or love's compliment, Iween they smelt as sweet. Browning. Weep (wep), v.i. pret. & pp. wept; ppr. weeping. [A.Sax. wepan, to weep, from wop, weeping, clamour, outcry; like O. Sax. wopian, from wóp; O.H.G. wuofan, from wuof, grief, weeping; Goth. vopjan, to cry, to cry aloud; Icel. apa, to shout, to cry, from óp, a cry; cog. Rus. vopit, to make an outcry, to weep, topl lamentation; Lith. vapiti, to weep; L. voL, voice; Gr. epos, a word; Skr. vach, to speak.] 1. Originally, to express sorrow, grief, or anguish by outcry; in modern usage, to manifest and express grief or other strong passion by shedding tears.

They all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him. Acts xx. 37Then they for sudden joy did weep. Shak. 2. To lament; to complain. Num. xi. 13.3. To drop or flow as tears.

The blood weeps from my heart. Shak 4. To let fall drops; to drop water; hence, to rain.

When heaven doth weep, doth not the earth o'erflow? Shak

5. To give out moisture; to be very damp. 'Clayey or weeping grounds.' Mortimer.6. To have the branches drooping or hanging downwards, as if in sorrow; to be pendent; to droop; as, a weeping tree. Weep (wēp), v. t. 1. To lament; to bewail: to bemoan. We wand'ring go Through dreary wastes, and weep each other's woe. Pope.

2. To shed or let fall drop by drop, as tears; to pour forth in drops, as if tears. Weep your tears into the channel.' Shak. 'Tears 'Groves such as angels weep.' Milton. whose rich trees wept odorous gums and balm.' Milton.-3. To celebrate by weeping or shedding tears. To weep his obsequies." Dryden.-4. To spend or consume in tears or in weeping; to exhaust in tears; to get rid of by weeping; followed by away, out, &c. Weep my life away.' Tennyson. I could weep My spirit from mine eyes.

Shak.

5. To form or produce by shedding tears. We vow to weep seas, live in fire, eat rocks. Shak. 6. To extinguish by shedding tears: followed by out. In compassion weep the fire out.' Shak.

Weepable + (wep'a-bl), a. Exciting or calling for tears; lamentable; grievous. Bp. Pecock.

Weeper (wēp'èr), n. 1. One who weeps; one who sheds tears.

Laughing is easy, but the wonder lies What store of brine supplied the weeper's eyes. Dryden. 2. A sort of white linen cuff, border, or band on a dress, worn as a badge of mourning. Mourners clap bits of muslin on their sleeves, and Goldsmith. these are called weepers. The young squire... looked remarkably well in Smollett. his weepers.

3. A pretty little South American monkey of the sapajou group and genus Cebus, the C. capucinus. Called also Sai (which see). Weepfult (wēp'ful), a. Full of weeping; grieving. Wickliffe.

WEEPING-ASH

Α

Weeping-ash (wep'ing-ash), n. Fraxinus pendula, a variety of ash differing from the common ash only in its branches arching downwards instead of upwards. Weeping - birch (wep'ing-bêrch), n. variety of the birch-tree, known as Betula pendula, with drooping branches. It is very common in different parts of Europe. It differs from the common birch not only in its weeping habit, but also in its young shoots being quite smooth, bright chestnut brown when ripe, and then covered with little white warts.

Weeping-cross (wēp'ing-kros), n. A cross, often of stone, erected on or by the side of a highway, where penitents particularly offered their devotions.

Wither.

For here I mourn for your, our publike losse, And doe my pennance at the weeping-crosse. -Toreturn or come home by Weeping-Cross, an old phrase meaning to suffer a defeat in some adventure; to meet with a painful repulse or failure; to repent sorrowfully having taken a certain course or engaged in a particular undertaking.

But the time will come when, comming home by Weeping-Crosse, thou shalt confesse that it was better to be at home. Lyly.

Weepingly (wēp'ing-li), adv. In a weeping manner; with weeping; in tears.

She took her son into her arms weepingly laughing. Wotton. Weeping-ripet (wěp'ing-rip), a. Ripe or ready for weeping.

The king was weeping-ripe for a good word. Shak. Weeping-rock (wep'ing-rok), n. A porous rock from which water gradually issues. Weeping-spring (wep'ing-spring), n. Α spring that slowly discharges water. Weeping-tree (weping trẻ), n. A name common to varieties of several trees, the branches and twigs of which in a normal state have an upward direction, while in the weeping variety the branches and branchlets are elongated and pendulous, or drooping. The weeping-willow, weeping-birch, and weeping-ash are examples. Weeping-willow (wep'ing-wil-lo), n. A species of willow, the Salix babylonica, whose branches grow very long and slender, and hang down nearly in a perpendicular direction. It is a native of the Levant, and is said to have been first planted in England by the poet Pope.

Weerisht (wer'ish), a. See WEARISH. Weett (wet), v.i. pret. wot. [A. Sax. witan, to know. See WIT, v. and n.] To know; to be informed; to wit.

From Egypt come they all, this lets thee weet. Spenser. Weet (wět), v t. To wet. Spenser. Weet (wet), n. Rain; moisture; wet. [Scotch.] Weetingly + (wēt'ing-li), adv. Knowingly; wittingly. Spenser. Weetlesst (wēt'les), a. 1. Unknowing; unthinking; unconscious.

Smiling, all weetless of th' uplifted stroke,

Hung o'er his harmless head. F. Baillie. 2. Unknown; not understood; unmeaning. 'With fond terms and weetless words.' Spen

ser.

Weever (we'vér), n. [O. Fr. wivre, vivre, guivre, properly a serpent, a dragon or wyvern, from L. vipera, a viper. The name was given to the fish from stinging. Wyvern is almost the same word.] An acanthopterygious fish of the genus Trachinus, family Trachinidae or Uranoscopidæ, but included by many authorities among the

Dragon-weever (Trachinus draco).

perches. About four species are well known, two of which are found in the British seas, viz. the dragon-weever, sea-cat, or stingbull, T. draco, about 10 or 12 inches long, and the lesser weever, T. vipera, called also the adder-pike, or sting-fish, which attains a length of 5 inches. They inflict wounds with the spines of their first dorsal fin, which are much dreaded. Their flesh is esteemed.

Weevil (we'vil), n. [A. Sax. wifel, L. G. and D. wevel, G. wibel; cog. Lith. wabalas, a beetle; supposed to be allied to weave or wave, from the insect's movements.] The name ap

615

plied to coleopterous insects of the family Curculionidæ, distinguished by the prolon gation of the head, so as to form a sort of snout or proboscis. Many of the weevils are dangerous enemies to the agriculturist, destroying grain, fruit, flowers, leaves, and

Corn-weevil (Calandra

granaria).

stems. The cornweevil (Calandra granaria) a, Insect natural size. b, Inis a little dark sect magnified. c Larva, d Egg red beetle of (both magnified), about inch long, which deposits its eggs on corn after it is stored, and the larvæ burrow therein, each larva inhabiting a single grain, great quantities of which are thus destroyed. See CURCULIONIDE.

Weevilled (we'vild), a. Infested by weevils; as, weevilled grain. Weevily (we'vil-i), a. Infested with weevils; as, weevily grain.

Weft (weft), old pret. of wave.

Weft (weft), n. [A. Sax. weft, the woof, lit. what is woven, from wefan, to weave; so Icel. veftr. See WEAVE] The woof or filling of cloth; the threads that are carried in the shuttle and cross the warp. Weft (weft), n. 1. A thing waived, cast away, or abandoned; a waif or stray. See WAIF.

His horse it is the herald's weft. B. Jonson. 2. A waif; a homeless wanderer. Spenser. Weft (weft), n. A signal made by waving.

Your boatmen lie on their oars, and there have already been made two wefts from the warder's tur

ret, to intimate that those in the castle are impatient

for your return.

Sir IV. Scott.

Crimes were punished by fines (the wehrgelt of our Saxon ancestors) according to their heinousness and according to the rank of the aggrieved parties. Brougham. Wehr-wolf (wēr'wylf), n. Same as Werewolf. Weigh (wa), v.t. [A. Sax. wegan, to bear, to lift, to weigh, and intrans. to move; wage, a balance, a pair of scales; D. wegen, to weigh; Icel. vega, to bear, lift, move; G. wiegen, to rock; from same root as way.] 1. To raise or bear up; to lift so that it hangs in the air; as, to weigh anchor; to weigh an old hulk. Weigh the vessel up.' Cowper.-2. To examine by the balance so as to ascertain how heavy a thing is; to determine the heaviness of, as of certain bodies, by showing their relation to the weights of some other bodies which are known, or which are assumed as general standards of weight; as, to weigh sugar; to weigh gold.-3. To pay, allot, or take by weight.

They weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. Zech. xi. 12.

4. To consider or examine for the purpose of forming an opinion or coming to a conclusion; to estimate deliberately and maturely; to balance; to compare; as, to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of a scheme; to weigh one thing with or against another. If that the injuries be justly weighed.' Shak.

Weigh oath with oath, and you will nothing weigh. Shak Regard not who it is which speaketh, but weigh only what is spoken. Hooker.

5. To consider as worthy of notice; to make account of; to care for; to regard.

You weigh me not. O, that's you care not for me.
Shak.

For life I prize it as I weigh grief. Shak. -To weigh down, (a) to preponderate over. 'He weighs King Richard down.' Shak.

Fear weighs down faith with shame. Daniel. (b) To oppress with weight or heaviness; to overburthen; to depress.

Thou (sleep) wilt no more weigh mine eyelids down. Shak.

My soul is quite weighed down with care. Addison, Weigh (wa), v. i. 1. To have weight; as, to weigh lighter or heavier.-2. To be or amount

WEIGHT

in heaviness or weight; to equal in weight; as, a nugget weighing several ounces; a load which weighs 2 tons [The terms expressing the weight are in the objective absolute, or in the accusative of quantity.]-3. To be considered as important; to have weight in the intellectual balance.

He finds that the same argument which weighs with him has weighed with thousands before him. Atterbury.

4. To bear heavily; to press hard.

Cleanse the stuff'd bosom of that perilous stuff,
Shak,
Which weighs upon the heart.

-To weigh down, to sink by its own weight or burden. Making the bough, being overloaden, weigh down.' Bacon.

Weigh (wa), n. A certain quantity or measure, estimated by weight; a measure of weight. See WEY.

Weigh (wa), n. Naut. a corruption of Way, used only in the phrase under weigh; as, the ship is under weigh, i.e. is making way by aid of its sails or other propelling power. Weighable (wa'a-bl), a. Capable of being weighed.

Weighage (wa'aj), n. A rate or toll paid for weighing goods.

Weigh-board (wābōrd), n. In mining, see WAY BOARD.

Weigh-bridge (wà'brij), n. A weighingmachine for weighing carts, wagons, &c.,

with their load.

Weighed (wad), a. Experienced. 'A young man not weighed in state matters.' Bacon. Weigher (wa'er), n. One who or that which weighs; an officer whose duty is to weigh commodities or test weights.

Weigh-house (wa'hous), n. A building (generally of a public character) at or in which goods are weighed by suitable apparatus.

Same

Weighing (wa'ing), n. 1. The act of ascertaining weight.-2. As much as is weighed at once; as, a weighing of beef. Weighing-cage (wa'ing-kāj), n. A cage in which living animals may be conveniently weighed, as pigs, sheep, calves, &c. Weighing-house (wa'ing-hous), n. as Weigh-house. Weighing-machine (wa'ing-ma-shën), n. Any contrivance by which the weight of an object may be ascertained, as the common balance, spring-balance, steelyard, &c. The term is, however, generally applied only to those contrivances which are employed for ascertaining the weight of heavy bodies, as the machines for the purpose of determining the weights of laden vehicles; machines for weighing cattle; machines for weighing heavy goods, as large casks, bales, &c. Some of these are constructed on the principle of the lever or steelyard, others on that of a combination of levers, and others on that of the spring-balance. A special feature of the majority of them is the large platform, on a level with or raised but as little as possible above the ground, so that vehicles or heavy goods to be weighed thereon may be easily transferred to and from it. Weigh-lock (wā'lok), n. A canal lock at which barges are weighed and their tonnage settled.

Weigh-shaft (wa'shaft), n. See WIPER

SHAFT.

Weight (wat), n. [O.E. weght, wight, A. Sax. ge-wiht, from wegan. See WEIGH.] 1. That property of bodies by which they tend toward the centre of the earth; gravity; as, a body has weight or has no appreciable weight.-2. The measure of the force of gravity, as determined for any particular body; the measure of the force by which any body or a given portion of any substance gravitates or is attracted to the earth; in a more popular sense, the amount which anything weighs; the quantity of matter as estimated by the balance or expressed numerically with reference to some standard unit; as, a bar of metal having a weight of 5 lbs.; a load of 3 tons weight. In determining weight in cases where very great precision is desired, due account must be taken of temperature, elevation, and latitude. The apparent weight of any substance is less than its true weight by the weight of as much air as is displaced by it; therefore, as the density of the air is variable air when warmed expanding very much more than any solid-a piece of metal appears to weigh more in warm than in cold weather. Moreover air becomes more dense by an increase of pressure, consequently when the barometer is high all heavy bodies become apparently lighter; when the baro