Watch v.

Pa. t. and pa. pple. watched. Forms: 1 Northumb. wæcca (woæca), pa. t. -wæhte, WS. only in pr. pple. wæccende, 2–5 wecche, 4–7 wach(e, 4–5 Sc. vach, (? wauch), 4–6 wacche, 5–6 weche, watche, 6– watch. [OE. wæcc-, a doublet of wacian WAKE v. (weak), repr. WGer. *wakǣjon (OHG. wahhên); in WS. only in pr. pple. wæccende, the forms belonging to wacian being used for the other parts of the vb.; in Northumbrian the type wæcc- is alone recorded. For the Teut. and Indogermanic cognates see WAKE v.]

  I.  Intransitive uses.

  † 1.  To be or remain awake. Obs.

a. 1000.  Rituale Eccles. Dunelm. (Surtees), 28. Sive vigilemus sive dormiamus, Sva hvoeðer we woæca vel we slepa.

a. 1000.  Riddles, xl[i]. 8. Heht me wæccende wunian longe, þæt ic ne slepe siþþan æfre.

c. 1430.  Lydg., Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 169. He … Slepithe on the day and wacchith al the nyght. Ibid. (1430–40), Bochas, V. vii. (1554), 128. Fyrst the liddes of his eyen twayne, They cut them of … That he not should slepe in prison, But euer watche with paine intollerable.

1590.  Barrough, Meth. Phisick, I. xv. (1639), 23. If the sick watch overmuch, then you must apply such things as provoke sleep.

1641.  W. Cartwright, Lady Errant, II. ii. Pan. Wee’l keep you, As they doe Hawkes— Cos. Watching untill you leave Your wildness.

1658.  trans. Lemnius’ Secret Mirac. Nat., III. viii. 211. Hence grew the Proverb, when men have passed a troublesome nights rest, and could not sleep at all; they say, We have had Saint John Baptist’s night: That is, we have not taken any sleep, but watcht all night.

  † b.  To keep awake intentionally. Obs.

c. 1000.  Rule of Chrodegang, xiv. Eadiʓe beoð þa þeowan, þe heora hlaford, Þonne he cymð, hi wæccende fint.

c. 1450.  Cov. Myst., Betray. Christ, 18. Petyr, with thi ffelawys here xalt thou abyde, And weche tyl I come ageyn.

c. 1475.  Partenay, 5375. Where it behouith to wacche nightes thre Without Any sompnolent slepe to be.

1602.  Vaughan, Direct Health, in Babees Bk., 252. Watch not too long after supper, but depart within two hours to bed.

1650.  H. Brooke, Conserv. Health, 180. The Phlegmatick and Fat should Watch much.

1667.  Milton, P. L., I. 332. As when men wont to watch On duty, sleeping found by whom they dread, Rouse and bestir themselves ere well awake.

  c.  Of certain flowers: To remain unclosed (during certain hours of the day).

1812.  New Bot. Gard., I. 51. The flowers [of Anthericum ramosum] watch from seven in the morning to three or four in the afternoon.

  d.  To watch up: to sit up at night. rare.

1852.  Thackeray, Esmond, III. v. Esmond had seen this gentleman … toiling to give bread to a great family, and watching up many a long winter night to keep the wolf from his door.

  e.  To remain awake with a sick person or at his bedside, for the purpose of rendering help or comfort.

1691.  Tilson, in Baxter’s Certainty Worlds Spirits, 148. Between One and Two-a-Clock in the Morning she fell into a Trance. One Widow Turner, who watched with her that Night, says, that [etc.].

a. 1700.  Evelyn, Diary, 6 March 1670. I watched late with him [a brother on his deathbed] this night.

1843.  Mrs. Browning, To Flush, vii. This dog watched beside a bed … Where no sunbeam broke the gloom Round the sick and dreary.

  2.  To remain awake for purposes of devotion; to keep vigil.

971.  Blickl. Hom., 137. Heo wæs wæccende dæʓes ond nihtes.

c. 1450.  Capgrave, St. Gilbert (1910), 121. Aftyr sche had wecchid in deuoute prayeres al a nyte sche went hom hol fro both sores.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 13. He was tempted moost suttelly, he watched, he fasted, he prayed moost besyly.

1570–1.  Rec. Burgh Lanark (1893), 54. Item, for candill to wyche in the kirk, ij s.

1712.  P. Metcalfe, Life S. Winefride (1917), 18. She watch’d whole Nights in the Church, either kneeling or prostrate before the Altar or [etc.].

1756–9.  A. Butler, Lives Saints, S. Peter Damian. Peter watched long before the signal for matins, and after with the rest.

1865.  Swinburne, Chastelard, III. i. 90. Fair sir, Give me this hour to watch with and say prayers.

1913.  W. K. L. Clarke, St. Basil, vi. 89. To fast or watch more than the rest is self-will and vain-glory.

  b.  quasi-trans. with complement. To watch in: to keep vigil to greet (the New Year).

1828.  Adam Clarke, in Life (1840), 454. Mother was not strong enough to watch-in the New Year.

  3.  To be on the alert, to be vigilant; to be on one’s guard against danger or surprise.

a. 1225.  St. Marher., 15. Ah þeo þet stalewurþe beoð ant starke to ȝein me [sc. Satan], swa þet heo ham wið me ant mine wrenches wecchinde ham werien, so uuel me puncheð þrof þet [etc.].

1595.  Shaks., John, IV. i. 5. Be heedfull: hence and watch.

1658.  J. Owen, Temptation, ii. 30. To watch is as much as to be on our guard, to take heed, to consider all waies, and meanes whereby an enemy may approach to us. Ibid. (1675), Indwelling Sin, viii. (1732), 81. It [sc. sin] adds in its workings, Deceit unto Power. The Efficacy of that must needs be great, and is carefully to be watched against.

1770.  Goldsm., Des. Vill., 166. But in his duty prompt at every call, He watched and wept, he prayed and felt for all.

1818.  Scott, Rob Roy, xxvi. I wad advise ony friends o’ mine to gree wi’ Rob; for, watch as they like, and do what they like, they are sair apt to be harried when the lang nights come on.

  † b.  To attend diligently to a duty. Const. upon. Cf. WAIT v.¹ 14 d. Obs.

1608.  Willet, Hexapla Exod., 673. With all their heart and endeuour they should watch vpon their office.

  4.  To be on the look out; to keep a person or thing in sight, so as to be aware of any movement or change.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, VI. 87. His twa men bad he … Ga to thair feris to rest and ly; For he vald vach thar com to se.

1547.  Bk. Marchauntes, e j. They haue a .C. eyes euer open to watch as the cat for the mous.

1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 45 b. The Byshoppe, whiche as the master of a shyppe sitteth watching at the Healme [L. qui tanquam gubernator nauis in specula sedeat intentus].

1607.  Chapman, Bussy d’Ambois, V. iii. Sit vp to night, and watch.

1765.  Foote, Commissary, II. 41. Watch, Simon, that nobody comes up whilst he is here.

1839.  T. T. Stoddart, Songs & P., 40. Quickly lead, Where the roving trout Watches round an eddy, With his eager snout Pointed up and ready.

1845.  Browning, Lost Leader, 14. Shakespeare was of us, Milton was for us, Burns, Shelley, were with us,—they watch from their graves!

1848.  Thackeray, Van. Fair, xxii. Did you ever see a dun, my dear; or a bailiff and his man? Two of the abominable wretches watched all last week at the greengrocer’s opposite.

1860.  Tyndall, Glac., II. xi. 290. I was to watch, and call out the direction in which he was to run.

  b.  With indirect question.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, VI. 62. I will ga vach all preuely, Giff I heir oucht of thar cummyng.

1390.  Gower, Conf., I. 163. That made him forto waite and wacche Be alle weies how it ferde.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, lxxxiii. 262. We … layde our busshement in a lytell wood a .ii. legees fro this cyte, to watch whan my brother Huon shold passe by that way.

1586.  Whitney, Choice Emblems, 3. The Crocodile, by whome th’ Ægyptians watche, Howe farre that yeare shall mightie Nilus flowe, For theire shee likes to laie her egges and hatche.

1878.  Tennyson, Revenge, xi. But they dared not touch us again, for they fear’d that we still could sting, So they watch’d what the end would be.

1888.  Glasgow Weekly Mail, 11 Aug., 5/1. It will behove the people … to watch how the Government may endeavour to pave the way for this change.

  c.  To be on the watch for opportunities to do something.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, XVII. 930. Bot dede, that vachis ay to mar With all hyr mycht waik and vorthy, Had at his worschip gret invy.

1471.  Caxton, Recuyell (Sommer), 327. The Inhumanyte and terrybilite of the habitans and Indwellars, that allway wacche and wayte to do euyll and desplaysir to alle the world.

1697.  Dryden, Virg., Georg., II. 776. The Groom … stript for Wrestling, smears his Limbs with Oyl, And watches with a Trip his Foe to foil.

  d.  To be on the watch for (something expected).

1831.  Scott, Cast. Dang., v. The wonderful turns of fate which have attended this fortress, are sufficient to warrant any one to watch for what seem the peculiar indications of the will of Heaven.

1864.  Trollope, Small Ho. Allington, xxvii. But I can see you when you watch for the postman.

  e.  To watch after (a person): to follow with one’s looks, watch the movements of. rare.

1850.  Thackeray, Pendennis, lix. You should have seen Fanny Bolton’s eyes watching after the dove-coloured young lady! Ibid. (1852), Esmond, II. x. Then he had seen her but for two days, and fled. Now he beheld her day after day, and when she was at Court watched after her.

  f.  Cricket. To watch out: = FIELD v. 5.

1786.  G. White, in Life & Lett. (1901), II. 160. Tom bats, his grand-mother bowls, and his great grand-mother watches out!!

1875.  Baily’s Mag., April, 403. So narrow is the ground, that long-leg and cover point respectively are quite out of sight, watching out on the hill-side.

1901.  Winch. Coll. Notions, Watch out, to field at nets for cricket.

  g.  To watch out (U.S. colloq.): to look out, to be on one’s guard.

a. 1888.  J. W. Riley, Little Orphant Annie, iv. You better mind yer parents,… Er the gobble-uns ’ll git you Ef you Don’t Watch Out!

1895.  S. Crane, Red Badge, i. You watch out, Henry, an’ take good care of yerself in this here fighting business.

1918.  in Times Lit. Supp., 11 July, 325/4. The new chantey on Monday morning’s route march was a thing to watch out for.

  5.  Watch over ——. To exercise protecting care over; to keep in constant view in order to preserve from harm or error.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 247 b. As heerdmen euer watchynge ouer the flocke of our lorde Jesu.

1655.  Jer. Taylor, Golden Grove, Agenda, Sunday, 65. Watch over thy self, counsel thy self,… and judge thy self impartially.

1712.  Addison, Spect., No. 289, ¶ 2. That Providence which watches over all its Works.

1781.  Gibbon, Decl. & F., xxxi. III. 233. But there is a Providence (such at least was the opinion of the historian Procopius) that watches over innocence and folly.

1816.  J. Wilson, City of Plague, II. ii. 216. From heaven fair beings come at night To watch o’er mortals while they sleep.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 404. The eye of the rulers is required always to watch over the young.

1879.  Lubbock, Sci. Lect., v. 166. We cannot put Stonehenge or the Wansdyke into a museum—all the more reason why we should watch over them where they are.

1899.  Marg. Benson & Gourlay, Temple of Mut, i. 11. In the temple courts, browsing on sparse blades of grass, roamed a flock of goats, watched over by an Arab girl.

  6.  To fulfil the duty of a watchman, sentinel or guard.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, X. 572. Vp to the wall I sall ȝow bring, Gif god vs kepis fra persaving Of thame that wachis on the wall.

c. 1475.  Rauf Coilȝear, 407. Him behouit neidlingis to watche on the wald.

1538.  Elyot, Dict., Excubo, to watche, as they whiche in battaylle, or in the garde of a pryncis personne doo.

1540.  Hody in Lett. Suppress. Monasteries (Camden), 284. Besydes that hit did cost me money to persons ffor a long tyme nyghtly to weche and to take hede lest any thyng shuld to be mysordered there.

1576.  S’hampton Crt. Leet Rec. (1905), I. I. 131. That every householder … should watche in proper person or at the least provide a good honest and able watcheman for the more suertie and save garde of the towne.

1623.  in Rymer Fœdera (1707), XVII. 529. The Lord Mayor shall cause certain Persons to watch at the Gates, and other like places in the Suburbs where Flesh may be brought, to view and search and to intercept the same.

1662.  J. Davies, trans. Olearius’ Voy. Ambass., 84. Great Lords and rich Merchants have a Guard in their Courts, who watch all night.

a. 1700.  Evelyn, Diary, 6 Aug. 1641. I watched on a horne worke neere our quarters.

1791.  Mrs. Radcliffe, Rom. Forest, ii. Peter was ordered to watch at the door.

  †  quasi-trans. with complement. nonce use.

1659.  Nicholas Papers (Camden), IV. 192. Y^e army men are almost watched off theire legs.

  † b.  To watch and ward: to keep ‘watch and ward.’ Also fig. (For the transitive use see 10.)

1583.  Babington, Commandm., x. (1590), 444. No more quench you the fire by withdrawing y^e wood, than assuredly you stay the course of wicked conceits, when you watch and ward well ouer your senses.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., II. viii. 2. They for vs fight, they watch and dewly ward, And their bright Squadrons round about vs plant.

1601.  W. Parry, Trav. Sir A. Sherley, 6. Either party lived watching and warding.

1620.  Shuttleworths’ Acc. (Chetham Soc.), 242. To a man, watchinge and wardinge at Burneley faire, iiij^d.

1681.  W. Robertson, Phraseol. Gen. (1693), 1296. To watch and ward, excubare.

1693.  Urquhart’s Rabelais, III. Prol. 4. Every one did watch and ward, and not one was exempted from carrying the Basket.

  c.  Of a sailor: To be on duty during a watch.

1799.  Nelson, in Nicolas, Disp. (1844), I. 5. I was placed in the Seahorse of 20 guns, with Captain Farmer, and watched in the foretop.

1820.  Scoresby, Acc. Arctic Reg., II. 235. Each man watches four hours, and rests eight.

  † 7.  Hunting. Of an otter: To retreat into its lair. Obs. Cf. 17.

1677.  N. Cox, Gentl. Recreat., I. (ed. 2), 10. An Otter Watcheth.

1686.  Blome, Gentl. Recreat., II. 76. A Fox Kennelleth, a Badger Eartheth, an Otter Watcheth, a Boar Coucheth.

  8.  Naut. † a. Of the timbers of a ship: ? To work loose. Obs. b. Of a buoy: To float on the surface of the water.

1633–4.  Admir. Ct. Exam., 50, 21 Jan. (MS.). Whilest she was at sea the beames did watch and worke too and froe.

1805.  Naval Chron., XIII. 328. The Pilots … swept for and weighed (as no buoys watched) the four anchors.

1865.  Gosse, Land & Sea, 84. All the buoys had not yet ‘watched’ but there was a tremendous sea running.

  II.  Transitive uses.

  † 9.  To keep under surveillance (a prisoner, a besieged army) in order to prevent escape or rescue; to set an armed watch upon (a place, road, passage). Obs.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 5086. He dide sette in wardes seers Knyghte to wachem [v.r. waite], & squiers.

c. 1375.  Cursor M., 16893 (Fairf.). And for that skylle lette wacche hym [sc. Jesus in the tomb] Thre dais we you pray.

a. 1400.  Sqr. lowe Degre, 997. Than he watched your Chambre bryght, With men of armes hardy and wyght, For to take that squyer.

a. 1400[?].  Morte Arth., 1613. That they be weisely wachede and in warde holdene.

c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, III. 70. In a schaw … Thai lugyt thaim … To wache the way als besyly as thai mycht. Ibid., V. 239. Schyr Jhone Butler, to wache the furdis rycht, Out fra his men of Wallace had a sicht.

1568.  Grafton, Chron., II. 712. They should be kept, and with such vigilant persons continually watched.

1579.  E. Hake, Newes out of Powles (1872), B ij 6. This Nummus nowe … Is straightly watchte, and hardly kept with men of each degree.

  b.  To guard (a dead body, goods).

1450.  Lomner, Lett., 5 May, in Paston Lett., I. 125. And the shreue of Kent doth weche the body.

1587.  Acc. Mary Q. Scots (Camden), 60. And for ij men hired to watch the plate at Ware and Peterborowe, iiij nights, vj s. viij d.

1697.  Dryden, Æneis, XI. 45. Acœtes watch’d the Corps.

1823.  ‘Jon Bee,’ Dict. Turf, s.v. Wake, He, also, ‘died one day,’ so they say, and his ever-faithful groom watched the body during the night.

1884.  ‘Mark Twain,’ Huck. Finn, xxvii. I peeped through a crack of the dining-room door, and see the men that was watching the corpse all sound asleep on their chairs.

1886.  C. Scholl, Phraseol. Dict., II. 834. The goods were watched all night by a watchman.

  † 10.  To guard against attack; to provide with a body of guards or armed watchmen; to serve as a guard to. Also to watch and ward (cf. 6 b).

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, XV. 128. Bot for the trewis he lefit noucht Wachis till set to the castele; Ilk nycht he gert men wach it wele.

a. 1400[?].  Morte Arth., 547. He wylle werraye i-wysse, be ware ȝif the lykes, Wage many wyghtemene, and wache thy marches. Ibid., 613. Thane yschewes þe emperour … Arayede with his Romaynes … Sexty geauntes be-fore,… With weches and warlaws to wacchene his tentys.

c. 1450.  Merlin, xi. 166. Than thei leged and pight teyntes and pavilouns, and hem rested, and lete the hoste be wacched.

1451.  Paston Lett., I. 199. Gonnor was wetched at Felbrygge Halle with xl. persones of the Lady Felbryggs tenaunts.

1549–62.  Sternhold & H., Ps. cxxvii. 1. Likewise in vaine men vndertake, Cities and holdes to watch and ward.

1607.  Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 207. The King of Indians was watched with foure and twenty Elephants.

1819.  Scott, Noble Moringer, x. Wilt thou receive this weighty trust when I am o’er the sea? To watch and ward my castle strong, and to protect my land.

  † b.  refl. To guard oneself. Obs.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, I. 520. For thar is nothir duk ne baroun,… That euir may wauch hym with tresoune!

  11.  To keep (a person or thing) in view in order to observe any actions, movements or changes that may occur.

  a.  with obj. a person (or animal). Sometimes implying the intent to attack or capture.

1590.  Shaks., Mids. N., II. i. 177. Hauing once this iuyce Ile watch Titania, when she is asleepe, And drop the liquor of it in her eyes.

1650.  Hamilton Papers (Camden), 255. Evre since I came hether I have bine so narowly wached by the severe Christans that I could not answer your letter before now.

1675.  Char. Town-Gallant, 3. He watches Wenches just as Tumblers do Rabbits.

1821.  Scott, Kenilw., viii. Here has been my hang-dog kinsman watching you as close as ever cat watched a mouse.

1831.  G. P. R. James, Phil. Augustus, v. He became aware that he was watched by a party of men, whose appearance had nothing in it very consolatory to the journeyer of those days.

1840.  Dickens, Old C. Shop, ix. She would take her station here, at dusk, and watch the people as they passed up and down the street.

1850.  Tennyson, In Mem., lxxxv. I watch thee from the quiet shore; Thy spirit up to mine can reach.

1902.  Buchan, Watcher by Threshold, 81. I had not gone twenty yards … ere I knew I was watched.

1917.  Eng. Hist. Rev., Oct., 495. To divide them [the Marches] between the Nevilles and the Percies, setting each to watch the other.

  b.  with obj. a thing.

c. 1515.  Cocke Lorell’s B., 12. One kepte y^e compas, and watched y^e our glasse.

1645.  Stapylton, trans. Musæus, C 2. On her high turret Hero watcht the flame, And as stiffe gales from any quarter came, Still screen’d it with the sacred robe she wore.

1798.  Coleridge, Anc. Mar., IV. 278. Within the shadow of the ship I watched their rich attire; Blue, glossy green, and velvet black, They coiled and swam.

1834.  Dickens, Sk. Boz, Boarding-ho., i. ‘You don’t think it’s at all an out-of-the-way affair then?’ asked Mr. Septimus Hicks, who had watched the countenance of Tibbs in mute astonishment.

1886.  Ruskin, Præterita, I. iv. 124. But before everything, at this time, came my pleasure in merely watching the sea.

1900.  G. C. Brodrick, Mem. & Impr., 293. There we lay, surrounded by twenty or thirty ships … all assembled on the same errand, vainly watching the heavens.

1908.  [Miss E. Fowler], Betw. Trent & Ancholme, 361. We have watched the red and blue Harvest-waggons.

  c.  with obj. a process or course of events.

1593.  Shaks., Rich. II., III. iii. 73. Thus long haue we stood To watch the fearefull bending of thy knee.

1655.  Walton, Angler, x. (1661), 173. Watch their going forth of their holes and returning.

1827.  Faraday, Chem. Manip., xix. (1842), 500. By this arrangement … the operations … are more conveniently watched.

1831.  G. P. R. James, Phil. Augustus, iii. While the hermit held the arm from which the blood was just beginning to flow, she … anxiously watched the returning animation.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., v. I. 662. It was remarked by those who watched their deportment that they had come back from the carnage of Taunton in a fierce and excited state.

  d.  with adv. or phrase as complement.

1660.  Nicholas Papers (Camden), IV. 237. [He] was there discourd by … Colonel Eubank and watcht to his lodging.

1840.  Thackeray, Shabby-genteel Story, v. Many a time had she … painted herself as Helen, tying a sash round her knight’s cuirass, and watching him forth to battle.

1844.  Dickens, Mart. Chuzz., xiii. Didn’t I watch him into Codger’s commercial boarding-house, and watch him out, and watch him home to his hotel. Ibid. (1848), Dombey, viii. Then he would turn his head, and watch the child away, and say [etc.].

1849.  C. Brontë, Shirley, xxxiii. He watched her down: he watched her in: himself shut the door: he knew she was safe.

1876.  Geo. Eliot, Deronda, xvii. He looked out for a perfectly solitary spot where he … could watch out the light of sunset.

  e.  with accus. and inf. (without to) or pres. pple.

1848.  Mrs. Gaskell, Mary Barton, xxxi. Mary watched the boatman leave the house.

1859.  Thackeray, Virgin., xvii. Lady Maria … scarcely lifted up her head from her embroidery, to watch the aunt retreating.

1859.  FitzGerald, Omar, xxxvi. For in the Market-place, one Dusk of Day, I watch’d the Potter thumping his wet Clay.

1860.  Tyndall, Glac., I. xxv. 183. Lying upon my back, I watched the clouds forming.

1896.  Housman, Shropshire Lad, lxii. They put arsenic in his meat And stared aghast to watch him eat.

1908.  [Miss E. Fowler], Betw. Trent & Ancholme, 41. We used to watch the small bees going in and out of a hole in the wall.

  12.  To keep in mental view; to keep oneself informed about (a course of events, etc.).

1675.  Dryden, Aurengz., III. (1676), 36. No hour of pleasure should pass empty by, Youth should watch joys, and shoot ’em as they flie.

1677.  Earl Essex, in Essex Papers (Camden), II. 117. Hee parted here with great professions of friendship … yet however I would be glad you did a little watch his proceedings.

1797.  Godwin, Enquirer, I. vi. 41. We must watch their minutest actions.

1838.  Thirlwall, Greece, xliv. V. 357. We cannot believe that he … would willingly have foregone the opportunity of watching the proceedings of his colleagues.

1843.  R. J. Graves, Syst. Clin. Med., ix. 99. The cerebral symptoms should be always watched with the most unremitting and anxious attention.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., v. I. 535. The war which was then raging in Hungary … was watched by all Europe with interest almost as great as that which the Crusades had excited five hundred years earlier.

1868.  E. Edwards, Ralegh, I. v. 78. The natural jealousy of the Spaniards watched every naval enterprise of Englishmen.

1871.  R. W. Dale, Commandm., vii. 204. Merchants watch the rise and fall of the markets in remote countries.

1886.  Ruskin, Præterita, II. i. 25. [My father] watched with some anxiety the use I should make of this first command of money.

1897.  J. L. Allen, Choir Invisible, xxiii. 347. She had never ceased to watch his career as part of her very life.

  b.  To be on the alert to avail oneself of (opportunities, advantages); to be vigilant to choose (one’s time for action); † to look out for, wait expectantly for (some coming event).

1578.  H. Wotton, Courtlie Controv., 97. Ponifre gaue a golden fee vnto his olde attorney, who watching hir time, employed all hir wicked inuentions which she had by long vse … collected.

c. 1590.  Marlowe & Nashe, Dido, III. ii. 824. O no, God wot, I cannot watch my time, Nor quit good turnes with double fee downe told.

1592.  Kyd, Sol. & Pers., I. ii. 30. I, watch you vauntages?

1617.  Moryson, Itin., I. 228. But it is the custome, that he that hath once payed the tribute may any time after enter this Church without paying any thing, if he can watch the opportunity of other Christians entering the same.

1639.  J. Clarke, Parœm., 237. He that meanes to make a good market of his ware, must watch an opportunity to open his shop.

1642.  J. Taylor (Water P.), Life Walker, A 2 b. Walker stood watching the Kings comming by.

1763.  Colman, Jealous Wife, III. 54. Did not She watch her Opportunity and come to You just as I went out?

1821.  Scott, Kenilw., xxvii. It was thus that he met not Wayland, who was impatiently watching his arrival.

1837.  Dickens, Pickw., ii. Mr. Winkle eagerly watched his opportunity: it was not long wanting.

1886.  C. Scholl, Phraseol. Dict., II. 834. You must watch your opportunity to sell the goods…. Watch the best opportunity for selling.

  c.  Of a barrister: To attend the trial of (a case) in order to note any point that may arise to affect the interests of a client who is not a party in the litigation, and to raise objections to any questions or evidence that may be inadmissible as compromising the client.

1890.  M. Williams, Leaves, I. 87. Serjeant Ballantine’s clerk … came up and asked me whether, as his chief was absent, I would watch a case that was about to be argued.

  13.  To exercise protecting vigilance over; to tend (a flock).

1526.  Tindale, Luke ii. 8. There were … shepherds … watching their flocke by nyght.

1667.  Milton, P. L., IX. 156. Man he made … and, O indignitie! Subjected to his service Angel wings, And flaming Ministers to watch and tend Thir earthie Charge.

1700.  Tate, Suppl. to New Vers. Ps., 8. While Shepherds watch’d their Flocks by Night.

1848.  Longf., Resignation, 1. There is no flock, however watched and tended, But one dead lamb is there!

  b.  To sit up beside (a sick person) in order to render help; to keep watch beside (a dead body).

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 20 b. I am the soule of hym that thou watched the last nyght.

1590.  Aldeburgh Rec., in N. & Q., 12th Ser. VII. 504/1. P[ai]d to Durrants wyfe for watchinge of Father profet,… iii^d.

a. 1592.  Greenes Vision, Wks. (Grosart), XII. 233. Tomkins … saw hee was in his bed,… watcht by his mother and his wife.

  † 14.  To do (a person a good or bad turn); to contrive (mischief). Obs.

  App. a substitute for WAIT v.², suggested by the synonymity of WAIT v.¹ and watch.

a. 1586.  Sidney, Ps. XVII. viii. Yet their high hartes looke so low As how to watch our overthrow.

1586.  W. Webbe, Eng. Poetrie (Arb.), 56. Which iniury though he meanes to doo me in myrth, yet I hope he wyll make me some suffycient recompence, or els I shall goe neere to watch hym the like or a worse turne.

1639.  J. Clarke, Parœm., 173. Harme watch harme catch. Ibid., 209. I’le watch you a good turne.

1705.  Hickeringill, Priest-cr., 16. But look to’t, Harm watch, harm catch: If you will needs bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

  15.  To provide (a town) with watchmen. In passive, to be policed by a specified body of men.

1806.  J. Carr, Stranger in Ireland, 52. At night the city is admirably watched and patroled. Most of the watchmen we armed with muskets, others with a pike [etc.].

1834.  Picture of Liverpool, 47. The Commissioners for Watching and Lighting the town.

1909.  Rep. H. M. Inspectors of Constabulary, 45. The municipal boroughs of Maidenhead and Newbury are watched by the county constabulary.

  16.  Falconry. To prevent (a hawk) from sleeping, in order to tame it.

c. 1575.  Perf. Bk. Kepinge Sparhawkes (1886), 16. Note, neuer wache sorehawke for then you take her stomake awaye, the rye cometh on so fast, & so hurt her.

1595.  Shaks., Tam. Shr., IV. i. 198. Another way I haue to man my Haggard, To make her come, and know her Keepers call: That is, to watch her, as we watch these Kites. Ibid. (1604), Oth., III. iii. 23. My Lord shall neuer rest, Ile watch him tame, and talke him out of patience. Ibid. (1606), Tr. & Cr., III. ii. 43. What are you gone againe, you must be watcht ere you be made tame, must you?

1689.  Selden’s Table Talk, 31. Lecturers … preach the People tame (as a man watches a Hawk) and then they do what they list with them.

  17.  Hunting. To track (an otter) into its lair.

1576.  Turberv., Venerie, 241. We watch and vent an Otter.

1686.  Brome, Gentl. Recreat., II. 76. Terms for Lodging and Dislodging of Beasts…. Watch and Vent the Otter.

1688.  [see VENT v. 17 b].