Wade v.

Pa. t. and pa. pple. waded. Forms: 1 wadan, 4–6 Sc. waid, vaid, vayd, 8 Sc. wide, 6 waade, 3– wade. Pa. t. 1 wód, 3 wode, (4 woude), 4–6 wod, 6 Sc. woed, woide, woyd; 6– waded. Pa. pple. 4 waad, wad, 8 Sc. wid, 7 wade, 6– waded. [A Com. Teut. (orig. strong) verb (not recorded in Gothic): OE. wadan (also ʓewadan), pa. t. wód, pl. *wódon, pa. pple. *ʓewaden, corresp. to OFris. wada str. vb. (WFris. wâdzje wk., NFris. waar str., to wade), MDu. waeden str., later wk. (Du. waden wk.) to wade, MLG. waden str. and wk. (LG. waden, waen wk.) to wade, OHG. watan str., to go, press forward, wade (MHG., mod.G. waten wk., to wade), ON. vaða str., to go through, wade (Norw. vada, vadda, vaa str., Sw. vada, Da. vade wk., to wade), f. OTeut. *wað-: *wōð-:—pre-Teut. *wădh- = L. vādĕre to go, proceed, walk. The root, which occurs only in Teut. and L., is represented also by the sb. OE. wæd, ON. vað, L. vadum neut., ford, shallow water.

  The mod. Eng. specific sense, ‘to walk in water,’ though prominent in the other Teut. langs., is not recorded in OE. (unless perhaps in the compound oferwadan OVERWADE v.). In OE. the vb. is almost confined to poetical use.

  The strong inflexion became obsolete in the 16th c.]

  1.  intr. To go (physically). † a. Of persons and animals: To go, advance, move onward; chiefly, to go over or through something. Obs.

Beowulf, 2661. [He] wod þa ðurh ðone wælrec.

a. 1000.  Andreas, 1271 (Gr.). Ða com hæleða þreat wadan.

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, xxviii. (Margaret), 250. Þi mawmentis … gerris in hel þare makaris wad. Ibid., xxix. (Placidas), 750. As he towart me cuth wad, a gredy wolf hynt me.

a. 1400.  Alexius (MS. Laud 622), 548. Alexius fer and ner gan wade, For nouȝth wolde he spare.

1581.  Styward, Mart. Discipl., I. 85. You maie send certaine rankes of Pikes vnto the Front towards the enimie, which shall wade through to strengthen the battaile.

c. 1648–50.  Brathwait, Barnabees Jrnl., IV. (1818), 153. Farewell,… Steepy wayes by which I waded, And those trugs with which I traded.

  † b.  Of inanimate things, esp. of a weapon: To go through, to penetrate into something. Obs.

993.  Battle of Maldon, 157. Ord in ʓewod.

c. 1290.  S. Eng. Leg., 69/51. Þe harde scourgene in is tendre flechs deope gonne wade.

c. 1300.  Havelok, 2645. He … bi þe shu[l]dre blade þe sharpe swerd let wade þorw the brest unto þe herte.

13[?].  Northern Passion, II. 138/1210. a. Þe þornes wode in his flesse.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Monk’s T., 504. Whan myght is ioyned vn-to crueltee Allas to depe wol the venym wade.

c. 1400.  Rowland & O., 478. Thurgh the horse schuldirs the swerde gan wade.

  † 2.  fig. To go (in action, thought or discourse); to proceed. Obs.

  Often difficult to distinguish from 3 c, in which it ultimately merged.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Troylus, II. 150. They … gonnen wade In meny an uncouthe glad and depe matere, As freendes don, whan they ben met yfere.

1412–20.  Lydg., Chron. Troy, II. 5762. I holde hym eke vnable To ben acceptid … Whan þat her tonge wadeth on þe lye.

c. 1440.  Capgrave, St. Kath., 1624. What wil ȝe ferthere in this mater wade?

c. 1535.  Fisher, Wks. (E.E.T.S.), 441. To reherse his reasons, and so waade in this matter with them, it were inough for an holle daye.

1538.  Bale, Thre Lawes, 1029. Lucifer I made So hyghly to wade To God he wolde be equall.

1549.  Latimer, 1st Serm. bef. Edw. VI. (Arb.), 22. I might seme … to take this parte of scripture because I woulde wade easilye awaye there wyth, and dryue my matter at my pleasure.

1568.  Grafton, Chron., II. 877. Which secret Serpent caused their furie to wade farther then reason could retract or restrayne.

1587.  Golding, De Mornay, xxv. (1617), 424. Well may mans skill wade into weekes & moneths: but considering the vncertainty of worldly matters, it can neuer wade into yeeres.

1589.  R. Robinson, Golden Mirr. (Chetham Soc.), 60. Thy grace extend to guide my feete Least I should wade awry.

1605.  Verstegan, Dec. Intell., vi. (1628), 156. Martin Luther wadeth further, and will haue England also to be a part of Germany.

1616.  Jas. I., Sp. Star-Chamb., 20 June, D 2. That which concernes the mysterie of the Kings power, is not lawfull to be disputed for that is to wade into the weakenesse of Princes.

1642–7.  H. More, Song of Soul, II. iii. IV. xxxiv. If this Out-world continually hath wade Through a long long-spun-time.

1653.  R. Sanders, Physiogn., 279. I have sufficiently waded in this various Doctrine.

1692.  Ray, Creation, I. (1704), 64. I will not wade further into this Controversie.

1709.  J. Logan, in Pennsylv. Hist. Soc. Mem., X. 381. Thus far I have waded thro’ some parts of his conduct in relation to the Proprietor.

  † b.  To ‘go,’ be (in a certain condition), ‘go about’ (in certain attire). Obs.

1593.  Norden, Spec. Brit., Essex (Camden), Introd. p. xii. Husbandmen … who wade in the weedes of gentlemen.

1576.  Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 335. In the want of which two thinges you doe not wade, as wise men hould opinion.

1596.  Spenser, F. Q., V. x. 53. My hart gan throb And wade in doubt what best were to be donne.

  † c.  To wade out of: to escape from. Obs.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Merch. T., 440. But lat us waden out of this matere.

1525.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., II. cxxviii [cxxiv]. 363. Therby shall you wade out of all sclaundre.

1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 91. Not with standing it waded out of all these daungers at the length [L. et tamen ex his omnibus malis emersisse tandem].

  † d.  To continue discussion with a person. Obs.

1527.  Wolsey, in St. Papers Hen. VIII., I. 203. And thus, wading further with the said Ambassadour, he shewed unto me, that [etc.].

1539.  Cromwell, in Merriman, Life & Lett. (1902), II. 176. Further wading with hym, he hath shewed unto me that [etc.].

1540.  Hen. VIII., in St. Papers, VIII. 362. That you shall likewise wade with the sayde Ambassadour of Portugall, to fynde out the very auctours of his saynges.

1546.  Masone, in St. Papers Hen. VIII., XI. 109. This I tell you … to thintent that before yow shall to farre wade wyth him in your instructions, you may [etc.].

1568.  Sir F. Knollys, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. I. II. 245. Thus farr I waded with hyr Grace to make hyr cawse disputable, but whan I sawe hyr tears, I forbayre to prosequte myn objection.

  3.  To walk through water or any liquid or soft substance which impedes motion. Formerly often, to pass over a river, etc., on foot (now rare). Phrase, to wade (up) to (the knees, armpits, etc.).

[c. 893:  see OVERWADE v.]

c. 1220.  Bestiary, 357. Oc on swimmeð bi-forn, and alle ðe oðre foleȝen, weðer so he swimmeð er he wadeð.

c. 1305.  Land Cokaygne, 179. Seuen yearis in swineis dritte He mot wade … up to þe chynne.

c. 1307.  Song on Exec. Sir S. Fraser, 100, in Wright, Pol. Songs (Camden), 217. He wod into the water his feren him bysyde to adrenche.

1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. VI. 58. Wadeþ in þat water, wasscheþ ow wel þere.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, IX. 356. Till at the last he fand a place, That men mycht to thair schulderis vaid. Ibid., 338. He weill our woude, Bot till his throt the vattir stude.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Sompn. T., 376. He [sc. Cirus] made that the ryuer was so smal That wommen myghte wade it ouer al.

1390.  Gower, Conf., I. 234. This Geant … tok this ladi up alofte … And in the flode began to wade.

c. 1400.  Laud Troy Bk., 7262. Men myght with-Inne a wyle wade A-mong the hors vp to the hamme.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, IV. xxvi. 156. He drofe hym in to a water but the gyant was soo hyghe that he myghte not wade after hym.

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, X. xiii. 23. The hydduus Oryon Quhen he on fute woyd throu the mekle see.

1530.  Palsgr., 770/1. The ryver is nat so depe as you take it, for a man may wade it over.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, cliv. 587. Huon and the duches waded to the londe.

1624.  Capt. J. Smith, Virginia, VI. 230. They were forced to wade a great way vp to the knees in water.

1662.  R. Venables, Exper. Angler, x. 99. In small Brooks you may angle upwards, or else in great Rivers you must wade.

1684.  W. Hedges, Diary (Hakl. Soc.), I. 159. The Waters were risen so high that men waded to their middle in most of the Streets.

1727.  [Dorrington], Philip Quarll (1816), 7. Finding it … but breast high, we … waded to the other side.

a. 1728.  Ramsay, To W. Starrat, 30. Aft have I wid thro’ glens with chorking feet, When neither plaid nor kelt could fend the weet.

1821.  Scott, Kenilw., ix. Through a deep and muddy lane, he at length waded on to the place.

1843.  Borrow, Bible in Spain, xxxi. A rill of water, through which we were compelled to wade as high as the knee.

1860.  Tyndall, Glac., I. xxvi. 215. The men wading through the snow appeared as if climbing up a wall.

1884.  Macm. Mag., Feb., 307. Pilgrims, wading knee deep in the river mud, walk round the holy city in sun-wise circuit.

1894.  J. Payn, Gleams of Memory, 99. The gentlemen waded and carried the ladies on their shoulders.

  indirect passive.  1388.  Wyclif, Ezek. xlvii. 5. The depe watris of the stronde hadden wexe greet, that mai not be waad ouer [1382 be ouer wad].

1544.  Betham, Precepts War, I. cxciii. I v. What is to be done when waters can not be waded ouer.

1672.  J. Lacy, trans. Tacquett’s Milit. Archit., 21. It cannot be less than six feet, otherwise a wet Ditch might be waded over.

  ¶  transf. (in nonce-uses).

13[?].  Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 787. Þe walle wod in þe water wonderly depe.

1744.  M. Bishop, Life & Adv., 255. The Edgar … was blown up … after wading through those hazardous Seas that we had just arrived from.

  b.  in figurative context, esp. to wade through blood, slaughter, etc.

1400.  Rom. Rose, 5022. To wynne the Ioy that is eterne, Fro which go bakward youthe hir made, In vanite to droune and wade.

1463.  Ashby, Poems, ii. 45.

1591.  Harington, Orl. Fur., Apol. Poetrie ¶ vj b. As one writes very pretily, that children do wade in Virgill, and yet strong men do swim in it.

1597.  Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxvii. § 4. They had … a sea of comfort and ioy to wade in.

1605.  Shaks., Macb., III. iv. 137. I am in blood Stept in so farre, that should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go ore.

1641.  J. Jackson, True Evang. T., I. 21. I will carry you along to wade through that Acheldama,… when the Dogge-star … of Persecution so raged.

1748.  Richardson, Clarissa (1817), I. 3. To encourage a man who is to wade into her favour (this was his expression) through the blood of her brother.

1750.  Gray, Elegy, 67. To wade through slaughter to a throne.

1886.  C. E. Pascoe, London of To-day, xvi. (ed. 3), 150. When France … went back for a time to the old form of legitimate monarchy which she had waded through seas of blood to destroy.

  c.  fig. (Now chiefly, to go through a tedious task, a long or uninteresting book.)

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., I. (1495), 8. It is peryllouse … to wade depe in thyse materes of dyuynyte.

c. 1530.  Frith, Disput. Purgat., Wks. (1573), 59/1. Me thinketh also that he wadeth to deepe to descende to purgatorye by thys text.

1601.  Holland, Pliny, XXV. xi. II. 232. Since we are waded so far into the deepe secrets of Physicke.

c. 1624.  Rowley, etc., Witch Edmonton, I. ii. (1658), 12. On every side I am distracted: Am waded deeper into mischief, then vertue can avoid. But on I must.

1756.  C. Lucas, Ess. Waters, I. Pref. The griping critic … wades through massive volumes in search of faults.

1806–7.  J. Beresford, Miseries Hum. Life, xvii. ¶ 1. Six-pence a day for the pleasure of wading through 16 columns of dull lies.

1809.  Brougham, Contrib. Edin. Rev. (1856), II. 300. From the large mass of matter through which we have been obliged to wade,… we have selected the publications mentioned in the title.

1893.  Stevenson, Catriona, ii. I warn you that you’re wading deep. I wouldn’t put myself in your place.

1907.  Verney Mem., I. 375. Wading through the endless iangle of their accounts.

  † d.  To persevere under difficulties. ? nonce-use.

1714.  in Jrnl. Friends’ Hist. Soc. (1918), 29. We found the Exercise of the day heavy enough to wade under.

  4.  transf. Of the sun or moon: To move (apparently) through clouds or mist; to be clouded. Chiefly Sc. and north.

a. 1400–50.  Wars Alex., 4141. Þe son wadis … & þe wedire gloumes.

1646.  Trapp, Comm. John xviii. 23, 121. We must, when aspersed, labour as the eclipsed Moon, by keeping our motion, to wade out of the shadow.

1677.  W. Hubbard, Narrative, 18. After the Moon had waded through the dark shadow of the Earth … the two Companies marched on.

1725.  Ramsay, Gentle Sheph., I. i. The sun was wading thro’ the mist.

1816.  Scott, Bl. Dwarf, iii. The moon … was, in the phrase of that country, wading or struggling with clouds.

1844.  H. Stephens, Bk. Farm, I. 293. When the sun is more or less obscured,… and when he is said to be wading in the cloud, rain may come.

1846.  Mrs. A. Marsh, Father Darcy, II. xiv. 247. The pale light of a crescent moon wading among the black and lowering clouds.

  5.  trans. To walk through (water, etc.). † Also fig.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 8964. Sco lift hir skirt … And barfote wode sco þat burn.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, XIX. 760. The mekill mos … That wes so hydwis for till waid.

c. 1480.  Henryson, Paddock & Mouse, 38. Thocht the brym be perrillous to waid.

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, III. x. 31. Nor the deip see Ionium, for all his hycht, Ne mycht he waid equallie ws to arest.

a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Hen. VII., 18 b. The Englishmen in the forefront waded the dyche.

1563.  Foxe, A. & M., 849 b. Whiche was he sayde, a matter that he hadde diligently waded auncient authors bothe greeke and latine for.

1579.  Fenton, Guicciard., X. (1599), 437. Three thousand footmen … afterwardes waded the foord of Myncia.

1822.  Byron, Juan, VII. xiii. The Danube could not well be waded.

1869.  Tozer, Highl. Turkey, I. 291. Our guide … made a detour into the mountains to avoid wading the stream.

1888.  Goode, Amer. Fishes, 20. For wading the bars he uses a much longer rod.

  transf.  a. 1891.  Morris, Poems by the Way, 122. When we wade the tangled wood.

  6.  To cause (a horse) to walk through water.

1838.  Mrs. Bray, Tradit. Devonsh., I. 262. Hence we again waded our horses, after walking about ten miles across the fen.