In 7 wafter. [f. WAFT v.2 and v.1 + -URE. Cf. clefture, raisure; with the spelling wafter cf. jointer for jointure.
It seems most probable that Rowe was right in regarding wafter in the former edd. of Shaks., Jul. C., as intended for wafture. There is, however, a possibility that wafter is a word of Shakespeare’s native dialect, related to WAFTER vb. to wave (Myrc, a. 1450). Since the publication of Rowe’s ed. of Shaks., wafture, of which no earlier examples are known, has been somewhat common in literary use.]
1. a. The action or an act of waving (the hand or something held in the hand).
1601. Shaks., Jul. C., II. i. 246. You answer’d not, but with an angry wafter [ed. Rowe 1709 and later edd. wafture] of your hand, Gaue signe to me to leaue you.
1742. Young, Nt. Th., II. 515. Caught by the wafture of a golden lure.
1782. Eliz. Blower, Geo. Bateman, I. 52. ‘Go!’ cried she, with an indignant wafture of her hand.
1875. G. Macdonald, Malcolm, II. v. 73. A few mysterious waftures of the hand of his lord set him trembling.
b. The waving (of a wing or wings).
1790. H. Boyd, Shepherds of Lebanon, I. Poetical Reg. (1812), VII. 127. The northern Eagle rous’d, and shook his plumes Tremendous: at the wafture of his wings. The clouds disperst.
1845. F. W. Faber, Rosary, etc. 62. With a murmuring, Soft as the wafture of a stockdove’s wing.
1878. C. Stanford, Symb. Christ, viii. 222. Light as the wafture of an insect’s wing, that motion might have been.
c. The waving or undulation (of a garment).
1865. Alex. Smith, Summer in Skye, I. 235. How we would hear your voices, see your faces, but note the wafture of your garments!
2. The action of wafting (WAFT v.1); propulsion by air or current.
1755. J. Hervey, Theron & Aspasio, xii. II. 204. Where the Wafture [of the blood] is to be speedy, the Channels either forbear to wind in their Course, or to lessen in their Dimensions.
1821. Lamb, Elia, Ser. I. Witches. The gentle Thames, which landed me, in the wafture of a placid wave or two,… somewhere at the foot of Lambeth palace.
1842. Sir H. Taylor, Edwin the Fair, III. i. The wind … Descended with a wafture and a swoop.
3. Something wafted or carried by the breeze.
1817. Blackw. Mag., I. 72. What waftures of incense are filling the air!
1837. New Monthly Mag., LI. 197. Gratification seemed to breathe in every wafture of the new-mown fragrance.
