Inflected waging, waged. 4 wagge, 5–7 wadge (pa. t. wajed), (5 Sc. vage), 7 waidge. [ME., a. ONF. wagier, waigier (Central OF. guagier, mod. F. gager: see GAGE v.):—popular L. type *wadiāre, f. *wadium WAGE sb.] I. To gage, pledge.
† 1. trans. To deposit or give as a pledge or security. Also with down. Obs.
c. 1320. Sir Tristr., 1011. He waged him aring, Tristram þe batayl toke.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. XIX. 285. Þat shal delyuery ous som day out of þe deueles powere, And betere wed for ous wagen þan alle we beon worthi.
1458. Forman’s Monumt. Christ’s Hosp., Abingdon, 80. Few folke there were coude that wey wende, But they waged a wed or payed of her purse.
1565. Cooper, Thesaurus, s.v. Ago, Ex spouso siue ex sponsu agere,… to sue a man in the action, that is by wagynge downe of a somme of money.
c. 1585. Montgomerie, Cherrie & Slae, 1453. Implaidging and waidging Baith twa thair lyves for myne.
† b. To offer as a gage of battle. Obs.
c. 1430. Syr Tryam., 1368. Therfore sche hath takyn a day, Certenly, os y yow say, And waged hur glove for to fyght.
† 2. fig. To offer (one’s oath, etc.) as security for the fulfilment of a promise, etc.
c. 1430. Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 3264. His othe he waged redilie.
1587. Golding, De Mornay, xxx. (1592), 476. Or, if he serued not God, how was it possible that the name of God should be waged by a mortall man, against the glory of God?
† 3. To give pledges or pledge oneself for the fulilment of (something promised). Obs.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. IV. 87. For he haþ waget me a-mendes as wisdam him tauhte.
c. 1400. Laud Troy Bk., 8026. He sent out his Messanger … Trewes to aske, and trewes to wage.
c. 1400. Ywaine & Gaw., 2172. I said, that i sold find a Knyght That sold me mayntene in my right, And feght with tham al thre, Thus the batayl wajed we.
† b. with obj. a clause. Obs.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. IV. 84. For Ichul wage for wrong he wol do so no more.
c. 1400. Ploughman’s Tale (Skeat), 1208. I trow they do the devell homage In that they weten they do wrong; And thereto I dare well wage, They serven Sathan for all her song.
4. spec. in Law. Now only Hist. a. To wage battle [= AF. gager bataille, Law Latin vadiare duellum]: To pledge oneself to judicial combat: = GAGE v. 1 c.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 292. He offered to wage his battayle with the sayde Duke in the court of the French king.
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj., Quon. Attach., xxxi. 82 b. It is statute, that the defender sall first wage the battell, and thereafter sweare.
a. 1625. Sir H. Finch, Law (1636), 25. Brothers or cosins shall not wage battell in a writ of right.
a. 1634. Coke, 3rd Inst., lxxii. (1648), 158. In a Writ of right, if the tenant wage battail by his Champion.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., III. xxii. 339. When the tenant in a writ of right pleads the general issue,… and offers to prove it by the body of his champion,… the tenant in the first place must produce his champion, who, by throwing down his glove as a gage or pledge, thus wages or stipulates battel with the champion of the demandant.
1819. Act 59 Geo. III., c. 46 § 2. From and after the passing of this Act, in any Writ of Right … the Tenant shall not be received to wage Battel, nor shall Issue be joined nor Trial be had by Battel in any Writ of Right.
b. To wage one’s (or the) law (AF. gager la ley, Law Latin vadiare legem): (a) to defend an action by ‘wager of law’ (see WAGER sb.2 5 a.). ¶ (b) In erroneous popular use: to go to law (cf. 10).
(a) 1455. Rolls of Parlt., V. 326/2. All ye lawes aforesaid so waged and doon.
1456. Paston Lett., I. 407. Gunnore hath waged his lawe of that he haade his day to wage it of, &c.
1523. Act 14 & 15 Hen. VIII., c. 1 § 1. In which sute … the Defendaunt or Defendauntes shall nat be admytted to wage ther Lawe.
1531. trans. St. German’s Doctor & Stud., I. xviii. 42. Yf the defendaunte wage his lawe in an accyon of dette broughte vpon a trewe dette.
1579. Expos. Terms Law, 138 b. Ley gager. Wager of lawe, is when an action is brought agaynst one without especialtye shewed or other matter of recorde,… then the defendaunt may wage his lawe, that is to say, sweare vppon a booke, and certaine persons with him, that he oweth nothing to the plaintife [etc.].
1611. Cotgr., Venir à la loy, to be receiued, or admitted, vnto the waging of his Law.
1716. W. Hawkins, Pleas Crown, II. x. (1726), 61. The Defendant shall not be suffered to wage his Law in any such Action.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., III. xxii. 345. It is only in actions of debt upon simple contract, or for an amercement in actions of detinue, and of account, where the debt may have been paid, the goods restored, or the account ballanced, without any evidence of either; it is only in these actions, I say, that the defendant is admitted to wage his law: so that wager of law lieth not, when [etc.].
1824. Barnewall & Cresswell, Cases K. B., II. 538, marg. Where, in debt on simple contract, the defendant waged his law, the Court refused to assign the number of compurgators with whom he should come to perfect his law.
(b) 1529. in Mary A. E. Wood, Lett. Roy. & Illustr. Ladies (1846), II. 51. If so be there be no way … to obtain it, but only by the common law … I am in that poverty I am not able to wage any law with him.
1538. Starkey, England (1878), 117. Oft-tymys the vniust cause preuaylyth, in so much as the one party ys not perauentur so abul as the other to wage hys law.
1548. Cranmer, Catech., 62. And in case that at the lenght we haue sentence on our side, yet … we shal, for the most parte, spende more mony in waginge of the law, than we shall gayne by the sentence.
1579. E. Hake, Newes out of Powles (1872), B ij. Or else to worke their neighbors woe, by waging sutes at Lawe.
1622. Mabbe, trans. Aleman’s Guzman d’Alf., II. 325. I wanted money to be able to draw out my thread to it’s length, and to wage Law with them.
1625. B. Jonson, Staple of N., V. i. I am not able to wage Law with him, Yet must maintaine the thing, as my owne right.
† c. To wage deliverance: = GAGE v. 1 b. Obs.
1607. Cowell, Interpr., s.v. Gage, To wage deliuerance, that is, to giue securitie that a thing shall be deliuered.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., s.v. Wage.
5. To put to hazard, venture or risk the loss of.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 2967. I salle wage for that wye alle that I welde.
c. 1630[?]. Webster, App. & Virg., III. i. (1654), 25. If you will needs wage eminence and state, chuse out a weaker opposite.
1825. Scott, Talism., ix. Therefore have you me, and many better Scottishmen, making war against the infidels under your banners…. If their numbers are now few, it is because their lives have been freely waged and wasted.
† b. refl. To throw oneself on the mercy of another. Obs.
c. 1400. Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton, 1483), I. xv. 11. Ther nys leon ne cruel leonesse soo fyers … that theyr malyce attempren … ne wyl … to tho that lowely wyl them seluen wage with meke herte.
† 6. esp. To agree to forfeit in some contingency; to slake, wager, bet. Obs.
1483. Caxton, G. de la Tour, xviii. b vj. Lete laye a wager, that whiche wyf of vs thre that obeyeth best her husbond … that he wynne the wager: wherupon they waged a jewele.
1598. R. Wrag, in Hakluyt’s Voy. (1599), II. I. 309. And holding them [the wives and children of their poor tenants] in such slauery as though they had beene no better then dogges, would wage them against a grayhound or spaniell.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 69. The Indians … make no small reckoning of these beastes (… their … Oxen), for they … wil runne a race as fast as any horse:… waging both Gold and Siluer vpon their heads.
1633. Ford, Love’s Sacrif., I. ii. I dare Wage a thousand Ducats not a man in France Out-rides Roseilli.
1637. B. Jonson, Sad Sheph., II. i. They shall rin after yee, and wage the odds, Upo’ their owne deceived sights, yee’ are her!
c. 1640. J. Smyth, Lives Berkeleys (1883), II. 386. And hee … being confident shee went with a son, offered to wage with her ten pound to thirty pound, that soe it was.
1674. Ch. & Court of Rome, 10. Our Author … wages his reputation in the case.
1704. N. N., trans. Boccalini’s Advts. fr. Parnass., II. 222. That famous Timotheus Graecus, who having waged his Beard about the Dispute of a Syllable with Francisco Filelfo, upon the loss of the Wager very willingly submitted to have it cut off.
1719. D’Urfey, Pills, II. 60. I’d wage a hundred thousand Pounds.
1742. Fielding, J. Andrews, III. xii. If I walked alone,… I would wage a shilling that the pedestrian outstripped the equestrian travellers.
† II. 7. To engage or employ for wages; to hire: a. for military service. Obs.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 3172. [Brenne] waged souders.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XXI. 238. If þei wage men to werre, þei write hem in noumbre.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 333. And I salle wagge to that were of wyrchipfulle knyghtes,… Twa thosande in tale.
1432–50. trans. Higden, Harl. Contin. (Rolls), VIII. 478. Fresche men wagede for men that were sleyne.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 148. A man of armes that is wagit with a lord for all the ȝere.
1563. Mirr. Mag., Ld. Rivers, liv. For hys defende great store of men I waged, Doubtyng the stormes which at such tymes betyde.
1596. Lodge, Wits Misery, 86. The Turke … hath alwaies in prest for the war 130 thousand Timariste [sic] (who are waged by lands which the Turke hath giuen them …) he hath beside them 14 thousand Ianisaries, and 36 thousand Spaies, continually waged by mony.
1599. Hayward, 1st Pt. Life Hen. IV., 68. Assoone as the Duke was come into Brittaine, he waged certaine souldiours, and presently departed to Calice, and so committed to sea for England.
1623. Bingham, Xenophon, 1. As for the Grecians, he waged them as secretly as he could, to the intent to take his Brother altogether vnprouided.
1652–62. Heylyn, Cosmogr., IV. (1682), 63. He wageth mercenary Souldiers of other Nations.
fig. 1607. Shaks., Cor., V. vi. 40. Till at the last I seem’d his Follower, not Partner; and He wadg’d me with his Countenance, as if I had bin Mercenary.
† b. gen. Obs.
1455. Paston Lett., Suppl. (1901), 88. If my servauntis faile I had lever wage some other man, for a jorny or a season, thanne my mater should be on sped.
1468. Sir J. Paston, in P. Lett., II. 327. I have wagyd for to helpe yow and Dawbeney to kepe the place at Castr, iiij wel assuryd and trew men.
1593. G. Harvey, Pierces Super., Wks. (Grosart), II. 98. He … waged Zenophantus to enflame and enrage his courage with the furious notes of Battail.
1601. R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw. (1603), 234. Mahumetan princes … to secure their estates doe never trust their home-bred subjects, but wage strangers and slaves, unto whose fidelity they commit their persons.
1608. Willet, Hexapla Exod., 497. Such things which a man is waged or hired to keepe.
† c. To bribe, Obs.
1461. Rolls of Parlt., V. 478/1. Convened with the same Scotts, procuryng, desiring and wagyng theym to enter.
1549. Latimer, 3rd Serm. bef. Edw. VI. (Arb.), 68. Thei wil be waged by the rich, eyther to geue sentence agaynste the poore, or to put of the poore mannes causes.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 348 b. The cleargy of Maidenburge … had waged him with great rewards and promesses.
1563–87. Foxe, A. & M. (1596), 44/1. Neither could the darke night serue them to that purpose, nor anie intreatie nor waging them with monie, which were appointed for watchmen.
1587. Golding, De Mornay, xxv. 442. As though Cyrus had bene bent of set purpose to verifie the Prophesie, or as though hee had bene waged by the Prophet.
1603. Florio, Montaigne, I. xxv. 73. The judgement of a man that is waged and bought.
a. 1800. Pegge, Suppl. Grose, Wag’d, hired, bribed: They wag’d him to do it. North.
† d. intr. To make an agreement for wages. Obs.
1608. Willet, Hexapla Exod., 497. He waged with Iakob to keepe his sheep.
† 8. trans. To put out to hire. Obs. rare–1.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. vii. 18. Thou … must wage Thy workes for wealth, and life for gold engage.
9. To pay wages to. Now rare or Obs.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. V. 192. And ich dar legge my lyf that Loue wol lene the suluer, To wage thyne, and help wynne that thow wilnest after.
c. 1400. Sowdone Bab., 590. Take a thausande pounde of Frankis fyne, To wage wyth the pepul newe.
14[?]. Customs of Malton, in Engl. Misc. (Surtees), 59. Also in pley of lande and als wele wagyd os be fore.
1460. Capgrave, Chron. (Rolls), 300. Thei were receyved by the duke of Burgundi ful worchipfully, and waged sufficiently.
1525. Ld. Berners, Froiss., II. lxi. [lxiv.] 79 b. The kynge of Aragon sware and sealed … to sende vnto hym as moche money as sholde wage fyue hundreth speres.
1530. Test. Ebor. (Surtees), V. 288. I will that a prest be wadgyd to pray for the helth of my saull … and to have yerely for his wadges eight marces.
1533–4. Act 25 Hen. VIII., c. 21 § 6. The charges of obteynyng the seid licences … and in conductyng of currours and wagyng solicitours … have be grevous and excessive.
c. 1550. R. Bieston, Bayte Fortune, A iiij b. Who wageth the seruaunt, who paieth the souldeour.
1552. Latimer, Serm. Lincs., v. (1562), 102. At oure tyme, phisike is a remedy prepared only for riche folkes, not for poore: for the poore man is not able to wage the phisicion.
1565. J. Hall, Crt. Vertue, 138. The laboryng man would for his payn, Be wagde with double hyre, Or els would loyter, and not worke At any mans desyre.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 726. Knowing his treasurie at home to be so voyde and faynt, that it was not able long to wage his Soldiours.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., III. xxii. 112 b. Besides that which is giuen vnto them of almes, they are waged either publikely, or of som in particular.
1640. Sir T. Stafford, in Lismore Papers, Ser. II. (1888), IV. 158. There proposition of requiringe 4000li monthlie to wadge there Army.
1823. Scott, Quentin D., v. It is an art this French King of ours has found out,… to wage his soldiers out of other men’s purses.
1833. I. D’Israeli, in New Monthly Mag., XXXVII. 203. The master dresses and wages highly his pampered train.
† b. Ironically, to reward (for evil). Obs.
1412–20. Lydg., Troy Bk., III. 2419. With his swerd … þoruȝ þe brest, & some þoruȝ þe side He percid haþ, and waged hem for euere. Ibid., 3362. To whom Hector bad he shulde goon To þe furies depe doun in helle,… And þus whan he was wagid for his mede, Anon his broþer … Swiche sorwe made … Þat pite was for to sen and here.
† c. To pay wages for. Obs.
1638. Heywood, Wise Woman, II. i. When I receive thee gladly to mine house And wage thy stay, thou shalt have Graciana.
¶ d. absol. (fig.) ? To bring reward.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., A. 416. My lorde þe lombe … Corounde me quene in blysse to brede, In lenghe of dayez þat euer schal wage.
III. 10. To carry on (war, a contest).
Developed from sense 3: cf. 4 a.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 255. To vage bataill in lissis…, that is to say in barreris.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 95 b. How bytter, sharpe, and fearfull is the conflicte to wage batayle & fyght with pryde.
1609. Daniel, Civ. Wars, II. cxvii. 62. Then hadst not thou, deare Countrie, com’n to wage Warre with thy selfe.
1631. Gouge, God’s Arrows, V. § 6. 415. [They] waged many battels valiantly and victoriously.
1667. Milton, P. L., I. 121. To wage by force or guile eternal Warr.
1697. Prior, A Satire, 118. He should be kept from waging War with Words.
1738. Wesley, Ps. LVI. i. My Foes continual Battles wage.
a. 1770. Jortin, Serm. (1771), II. 44. It does not follow that Christians may not wage war against their Enemies.
1791. Cowper, Iliad, XVII. 576. Thou, therefore, the resplendent reins receive … while I, dismounting, wage the fight.
1799. Coleridge, Ode to Duchess Devonshire, 33. And some, perchance, might wage an equal strife.
1826. J. F. Cooper, Last of Mohicans, xiii. I had thought the Delawares a pacific people,… and that they never waged war in person.
1840. Dickens, Old C. Shop, iv. That lady’s mother … resided with the couple and waged perpetual war with Daniel.
1845–6. Trench, Hulsean Lect., Ser. I. viii. 128. Those … conflicts, which the Church … must one day wage with those forms of untruth.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., v. I. 633. As they had been levied for the purpose of waging war on an infidel nation, they bore on their flag … the Paschal lamb.
1850. Tennyson, In Mem., lxxxii. I wage not any feud with Death For changes wrought on form and face.
1861. Buckle, Civiliz., II. iii. 232. How idle, then, is that warfare which reformers are too apt to wage.
1874. Green, Short Hist., ii. § 7. 95. In his old age he waged his bitterest war against his son.
1887. Bowen, Virg. Æneid, VI. 828. Ah! what battles the twain must wage, what legions array.
¶ transf. (nonce-use). a. 1648. Ess. on Death, in Bacon’s Remaines (1648), 12. I … could wish that like peace to all those with whom I wage love.
b. To contend for (a cause). rare.
1839–52. Bailey, Festus, 65. In Thy name we shall O’ercome, for we will only wage the right.
† c. intr. in various nonce-uses: To struggle, contend against; to struggle through difficulties; to contend in rivalry. Obs.
1605. Shaks., Lear, II. iv. 212. No, rather I abiure all roofes, and chuse To wage against the enmity oth’ayre. Ibid. (1608), Per., IV. ii. 34. The commoditie wages not with the daunger.
1656. in Verney Mem. (1907), I. 558. My troubles are many, yet … I indifferently wage through them.
1690. Child, Disc. Trade (1698), 187. If there were no others to wage with us, we might … make our own Markets; but as the case now stands, that all the World are striving to engross all the Trade they can [etc.].
11. trans. To wield (a weapon, etc.), rare.
1836. Lett. fr. Madras (1843), 17. Mr. Kenrick was mounted on the top of the hay, waging a water-pipe in full play.
1865. Sir J. K. James, Tasso’s Jerus. Deliv., X. lxix. I. 321. Pagans become, and for our kingdom wage ’Gainst impious Godfred, your avenging swords.
