Inflected waved, waving. Also ? 4 Sc. vaf, wayve. [OE. wafian (twice, in sense 6), corresp. formally to MHG. (and rare mod.G.) waben (see Grimm s.v. wabben) to wave, undulate; the Teut. root *wað- is found in ON. vafe wk. masc. doubt, uncertainty, and in WAVER vb. and the cognates there mentioned; the ablaut-variants *weð-, *wǽð- occur in G. weben to wave, move about (cf. WEAVE v.2, WEVE v.), which, however, is believed to be partly a dial. form of MHG. wêwen (mod.G. wehen) to wave, flutter, etc.; and in ON. váfa to swing, vibrate.
It is not always possible to distinguish between this vb. and the obsolete WAIVE v.2; the two approximate or coincide in some of their senses, and in some dialects and periods were identical in sound.]
I. To move to and fro or up and down.
* Of involuntary movement.
1. intr. Of a thing having a free end: To move to and fro, shake or sway in the air by the action of the wind or breeze.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, IX. 245. The discurrouris saw thame cumande With baneris to the vynd varand [v.rr. wawand, waiuand].
1508. Dunbar, Poems, iv. 14. As with the wynd wavis the wickir, [So] wavis [v.rr. wannis, waveris] this warldis vanite.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. ciii. 50 b/2. Whanne those fotemen … sawe the baners and standerdes waue with the wynde.
1577. T. Kendall, Flowers Epigr., 73. His crisped locks wavde all behinde.
1593. Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., II. ii. 173. Sound Trumpets, let our bloody Colours waue. And either Victorie, or else a Graue.
1671. Milton, Samson, 718. Like a stately Ship … With all her bravery on, and tackle trim, Sails fill’d, and streamers waving.
1713. Pope, Windsor For., 350. High in the midst … (His sea-green mantle waving with the wind), The god appear’d.
1810. Scott, Lady of L., III. xxv. No banner waved on Cardross gate.
1810. F. S. Key, The Star-Spangled Banner, ii.
| ’Tis the star-spangled banner—O long may it wave | |
| O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave! |
1837. Dickens, Pickw., xxxv. Dresses rustled, feathers waved,… and jewels sparkled.
1846. Ruskin, Mod. Paint., II. III. I. xii § 5. The bending trunk, waving to and fro in the wind above the waterfall.
1846. McCulloch, Acc. Brit. Empire (1854), II. 7. It was then that the flag of England began to wave over every sea.
1884. Bible (R.V.), Judges ix. 9. But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness … and go to wave to and fro over the trees?
fig. 1648. Herrick, Hesper., Mrs. Eliz. Wheeler, Poet. Wks. (1915), 107. In bloome of Peach, and Roses bud, There waves the Streamer of her blood.
† b. To wave in the wind: to be hanged. (Cf. WAG v. 3 d.) Obs.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, xvi. 43. Or it be nyght, I shall cause thee to waue in the wynde.
c. Of long hair: To hang down loose. poet.
1671. Milton, Samson, 1493. And view him sitting in the house,… And on his shoulders waving down those locks.
1767. M. Bruce, Last Day, Poems (1796), 129. His golden hair Wav’d on his shoulders.
d. trans. Of the wind, etc.: To cause (a thing) to sway or move to and fro.
1602. Kyd, Span. Trag., III. xii A. Behold a man hanging, and tottering, and tottering, as you know the winde will waue a man.
1817. Shelley, Rev. Islam, VIII. xxx. Beneath a bright acacia’s shadowy hair, Waved by the wind amid the sunny noon.
1828. Lytton, Pelham, x. The wind waved my long curls.
1829. Scott, Anne of G., xi. No sound was heard save that of the night wind, when it … waved the tattered banners which were the tapestry of the feudal hall.
† 2. intr. To move to and fro restlessly or uncertainly; to waver. Obs.
1406. Hoccleve, La Male Regle, 399. And whil my breeth may in my body waue, To recorde it vnnethe I may souffyse.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, xxi. 59. [This world] Quhair fortoun evir, as so, dissavis With freyndly smylingis of ane hure, Quhais fals behechtis as wind hyne wavis.
1508. [see 1 above].
1628. [see WAVING ppl. a. 2].
1665. [see WAVING vbl. sb. 1].
† b. To move to and fro unsteadily on its base or (of a person) on the feet; to totter. Obs.
1538. Elyot, Dict., Vacillo, to moue inconstantly, to wagge or waue, to be vnstable, or vnsure.
1605. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. iii. IV. 645. As an Infant which the Nurse lets go To goe alone, waves weakly to and fro.
1608. A. Willet, Hexapla in Exod., xx. 18. 445. [Vatablus renders the verb by] vacillabant, they waued.
1609. Ld. Brooke, Mustapha, IV. iv. Chorus iv. Thus reeles our present State, And her foundation waues.
† c. Of a floating body: To move restlessly by the impulse of the air or water. Also, To hover about in the air. Obs.
1606. G. W[oodcocke], Hist. Ivstine, XXVI. 94 b. The Ghosts of them whose liues they had rauished from their bodies, wauing before their eyes.
1632. Milton, Penseroso, 148. And let som strange mysterious dream, Wave at his Wings in Airy stream.
c. 1639. Roxb. Ball. (1887), VI. 429. They waving up and down the Seas, upon the Ocean Main.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett. (1650), II. xix. 32. Those, that have their heads lightly ballasted … are like buys [buoys] in a barrd Port, waving perpetually up and down.
1728. Pope, Dunc., IV. 538. Int’rest that waves on Party-colour’d wings.
† d. To wave oneself: ? to give oneself up to the motion of the water. In quot. fig. Obs.
1628. Feltham, Resolves, I. i. 1. When a Rich Crowne ha’s newly kiss’d the Temples of a gladded King, where he finds all things in a golden swimme,… hee carelesly waues himselfe in the swelling plenty.
† 3. Of a person: To be restless in mind; to alternate between different opinions or courses of action; to vacillate, waver. Said also of the mind, will, etc. Obs.
1387–8. T. Usk, Test. Love, I. ii. (Skeat), 167. ‘Ye wete wel, lady, eke,’ quod I, ‘that I have not … with the wethercocke waved.’
1566. Drant, Horace, Sat., I. i. A v. Thy mynde it waues and wagges, And wisheth after greater things.
1582. T. Watson, Pass. Cent. Love, v. Poems (Arb.), 41. I waue in doubt what helpe I shall require, In Sommer freeze, in winter burne like fire.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. xliii. § 5. The truth is they waue in and out, no way sufficiently grounded, no way resolued what to thinke, speake or write.
1607. Shaks., Cor., II. ii. 19. If he did not care whether he had their loue, or no, hee waued indifferently, ’twixt doing them neyther good, nor harme.
1611. [see WAVING ppl. a. 2].
1628. Feltham, Resolves, II. xvi. 46. Variety, in any thing, distracteth the minde; and leaues it waving in a dubious trouble.
1642. H. More, Song of Soul, II. iii. I. ii. Thus waves the mind in things of greatest weight.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., II. 62. The court waved between these two factions.
4. Of water, the sea: To move in waves, undulate.
1530. Palsgr., 772/2. I wave, as the see dothe. Je vague. After a storme the see waveth.
1552. Huloet, Waue as water doth in tempest, fluctuo.
1521. [see WAVING vbl. sb. 2].
c. 1797–1804. W. Blake, Poet. Wks. (1913), 366. Wave freshly, clear waters, flowing around the tender grass.
1820. [see WAVING vbl. sb. 2].
1865. Tylor, Early Hist. Man., iv. 63. Water is that which waves, undulates.
b. transf. Of a crowd: To move to and fro restlessly in a body.
1579–80. North, Plutarch, Pompeius (1595), 708. Pompey … perceiuing … that his owne battell on the other side waued vp and downe disorderly, as men vnskilfull in warres.
1591. Savile, Tacitus, Hist., I. xl. 23. Galba was driuen to and fro with the crowde of the companie, as it waued up and downe [L. vario turbæ fluctuantis impulsu].
1646. Sir J. Temple, Irish Rebell., 25. The people … continued waving up and down the streets.
1860. Froude, Hist. Eng., V. 387. He was still speaking, when the crowd began suddenly to wave and shift.
c. Of a field of corn, etc.; To undulate like the waves of the sea.
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 981. As when a field Of Ceres ripe for harvest waving bends Her bearded Grove of ears.
1720. Pope, Iliad, XX. 78. The forests wave, the mountains nod around. Ibid. (1725), Odyss., IX. 124. With wheat and barley wave the golden fields.
1775. Johnson, Tax. no Tyr., 20. Regions smiling with pleasure and waving with fertility.
1784. Cowper, Task, IV. 313. The lands, where lately wav’d The golden harvest.
a. 1830. H. Cockburn, Memor. (1856), 171. The whole place waved with wood, and was diversified by undulations of surface.
1834. Ruskin, Months, iii. Rejoice! ye fields, rejoice! and wave with gold.
1851. J. H. Gurney, Hymn. Fair waved the golden corn In Canaan’s pleasant land.
† 5. intr. To turn aside. Also trans. To move (a person) aside. To wave one’s way: ? to take a divergent route. [But this may belong to WAIVE v.1]
a. 1548. Hall, Chron. Hen. VIII., 206 b. The kynges train waued on the lefte hande, to geue the Frenche kyng and his train the right hande.
1642. Wotton, Buckingham, in Reliq. W. (1651), 109. Notwithstanding all which importunity, he resolved not [ed. 1642 omits not] to wave his way upon this reason;… that if … he should but once by such a diversion make his Enemy believe he were afraid of danger, he should never live without.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., VII. xviii. 381. Æschilus … was brained by a Tortoise which an Eagle let fall upon it…. Some men … would perhaps from hence confute the opinion of Copernicus, never conceiving how the motion of the earth below should not wave him from a knock perpendicularly directed from a body in the ayre above.
† b. Of the sun: To decline. Obs. rare.
1615. Kyd, Span. Trag., I. ii. 83. Till, Phœbus wauing to the western deepe, Our Trumpeters were chargde to sound retreat.
** Of voluntary movements.
† 6. intr. To make a movement to and fro (with the hands). Only OE.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Saints’ Lives, xxvii. 151. Þeah þe man wafiʓe wundorlice mid handa ne bið hit þeah bletsung buta he wyrce tacn þære halʓan rode.
c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., II. 318. Ymbfo hine [a dung beetle] mid twam handum … wafa mid þinum handum swiþe & cweð þriwa Remedium facio [etc.].
† 7. To make motions (with the uplifted hands or with something held in the hands) by way of signal. Chiefly Naut. (Cf. WEAVE v.2) Obs.
Cf. the OE. sense 6, which may possibly have survived unrecorded to the 16 c.
1513. Echyngham, in Lett. & Papers War France (1897), 148. He sayth he see my lord Admirall wayvyng with his handes and cryeng to the galeye: ‘Comme aborde agayne!’
c. 1595. Capt. Wyatt, Dudley’s Voy. (Hakl. Soc.), 30. Wee might discrie … two or three with a flagg of truce, wavinge unto us that it might be lawfull to com and speake with us.
1611. Shaks., Cymb., I. iii. 12. He did keepe The Decke, with Gloue, or Hat, or Handkerchife, Still wauing.
1611. B. Jonson, Catiline, I. i. C 1 b. A Bloody arme it is, that holds a pine Lighted, aboue the Capitoll: And, now, It waues vnto vs.
1644. Manwayring, Sea-mans Dict., 114. Waving is making a signe for a ship, or boate, to come towards them, or else to goe from them, as the signe is made, either towards or from-wards the ship.
† b. trans. To signal to (a person). Chiefly Naut. (Cf. WEAVE v.2) Obs.
1555. W. Towrson, in Hakluyt (1599), II. II. 33. We mistrusted some knauery, and being waued by them to come a shoare, yet we would not. Ibid. Certaine Negroes … waued vs with a white flagge, but we … would not stay. Ibid., 34. A great sort came downe to the water side, and waued vs on shoare with a white flagge.
c. 1595. Capt. Wyatt, Dudley’s Voy. (Hakl. Soc.), 4. Our Generall commaunded to wave them, and halinge them … made them know their dwtie unto our English collers by vailinge theire topsailes.
1602. Shaks., Ham., I. iv. 61. Looke with what courteous action It wafts [Qos. 1603–4 waues] you to a more remoued ground. Ibid., 68. It waues me forth againe; Ile follow it.
1616. Capt. J. Smith, Descr. New Eng. (Arb.), 225. We were haled by two West Indy men: but when they saw vs waue them for the King of France, they gaue vs their broad sides. Ibid. (1627), Sea Gram., xiii. 60. He waues vs to to lee-ward with his drawne sword.
† 8. To move to and fro or up and down regularly or rhythmically.
a. intr., To move the wings up and down in or as in flight. Said also of the wings. Also trans., to actuate or flap (the wings) in or as in flight. Obs.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 202 b. Than with her wynges she fanneth & waveth vnto she haue kyndled in them fyre.
1584–7. Greene, Carde of Fancie, Wks. (Grosart), IV. 165. The Bird[s] … beeing young, seeing the olde ones through age growen so weake, as they are not able to waue their wings, carrie them … on their backs.
1657. [see WAVING vbl. sb. 5].
1667. Milton, P. L., VII. 476. Those wav’d thir limber fans For wings.
1712–4. Pope, Rape Lock, II. 68. Colours that change whene’er they wave their wings. Ibid. (1728), Dunc., IV. 422. Of all th’ enamell’d race, whose silv’ry wing Waves to the tepid Zephyrs of the spring.
1808. W. Blake, Poet. Wks. (1913), 145. Before her throne my wings I wave.
† b. intr. To move the body from side to side. Also refl. (Cf. WEAVE v.2) Obs.
1608. Topsell, Serpents, 138. As fast as the bayte was to the rope and hooke, so fast is he also ensnared and tyed vnto it, which while he waueth and strayneth to vnloose and breake, he wearieth himselfe in vaine.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 649. A Snake … With curling Crest, and with advancing Head: Waving he rolls, and makes a winding Track.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 15 Jan. 1645. All the company fell a singing an Hebrew hymn … waving themselves to and fro.
† c. transf. To move (the head up and down) with a significant gesture; to incline (the head). Obs.
1602. Shaks., Ham., II. i. 93. At last, a little shaking of mine Arme: And thrice his head thus wauing vp and downe, He rais’d a sigh. Ibid. (1607), Cor., III. ii. 77. Goe to them, with this Bonnet in thy Hand,… Thy Knee bussing the stones:… wauing thy head.
1768. Sterne, Sent. Journ., Passport (Versailles). I see the injured spirit wave her head, and turn off silent from the author of her miseries.
9. trans. To move through the air with a sweeping gesture (the uplifted or extended arm or hand, or something held in the hand by one extremity, e.g., a wand, a hat, or something that flutters in the breeze, as a flag, a handkerchief), often as a sign of greeting or farewell, or as an expression of exultation; usually implying repeated movements to and fro or up and down.
1607. Shaks., Cor., II. iii. 175. And with his Hat, thus wauing it in scorne, I would be Consull, sayes he. Ibid. (1611), Cymb., I. iii. 6. Pisa. It [i.e., his last speech] was his Queene, his Queene. Imo. Then wau’d his Handkerchiefe.
1634, 1667, 1794. [see WAND sb. 10].
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 513. At once she wav’d her Hand on either side, At once the Ranks of swelling Streams divide.
1712–4. Pope, Rape Lock, V. 7. Then grave Clarissa graceful wav’d her fan; Silence ensu’d.
1784. Cowper, Task, VI. 699. Maidens wave Their ’kerchiefs, and old women weep for joy.
1794. Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, xix. [He] waved his hand for him to leave the room.
1814. Scott, Wav., xx. Many sprung up and waved their arms in ecstasy.
1847. Tennyson, Princess, IV. 501. She, ending, waved her hands: Thereat the crowd Muttering, dissolved.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., viii. II. 385. Halifax sprang up and waved his hat. At that signal, benches and galleries raised a shout.
1859. H. Kingsley, G. Hamlyn, xli. Sam only waved his hand in good-bye, and sped on across the plain.
1896. Conan Doyle, Rodney Stone, vi. He waved his white hands as if to brush aside all opposition.
b. of impersonal things personified; chiefly poet.
1667. Milton, P. L., V. 193. And wave your tops, ye Pines, With every Plant, in sign of Worship wave.
1749. Smollett, Regicide, I. vi. Ye spreading boughs, that wave Your blossoms o’er the stream!
1783. Crabbe, Village, I. 74. Above the slender sheaf, The slimy mallow waves her silky leaf.
1804. W. L. Bowles, Spir. Discov., II. 271. Dark Lebanon Waved all his pines for thee.
1820. Shelley, Orpheus, 106. And cypresses that seldom wave their boughs.
1886. J. G. Wood, Man & His Handiwork, iii. 31. In places where the corn waves its yellow ears, the forests are bright with foliage.
c. To brandish (a weapon).
1601. Shaks., Jul. C., III. i. 109. And wauing our red Weapons o’re our heads, Let’s all cry Peace, Freedome, and Liberty. Ibid. (1606), Tr. & Cr., V. v. 9. Bastard Margarelon Hath Doreus prisoner, And stands Calossus-wise wauing his beame.
1718. Pope, Iliad, XIII. 728. King Helenus way’d high the Thracian blade.
1799. Campbell, Pleas. Hope, I. 363. By that dread name we wave the sword on high, And swear for her to live!
1825. Scott, Talism., xxviii. The sabre of Saladin left its sheath as lightning leaves the cloud. It was waved in the air,—and the head of the Grand Master rolled to the extremity of the tent.
1869. W. S. Gilbert, ‘Bab’ Ballads, Ben Allah Achmet, 56. ‘My rival!’ shrieked the invalid, And drew a mighty sword and waved it.
1911. G. M. Trevelyan, Garibaldi, viii. 184. Men and women waved swords which they would never wield in earnest.
absol. 1607. Shaks., Cor., I. vi. 74. Let him alone: Or so many so minded, Waue thus to expresse his disposition, And follow Martius. They all shout and waue their swords.
d. intr. (for pass.) To be moved to and fro. Of a weapon: To be brandished. † Also trans., to pass over (something) with a brandishing movement.
1605. First Pt. Jeronimo, III. ii. 105. See, a reuengfull sword Waues ore my head.
1667. Milton, P. L., VI. 304. Now wav’d thir fierie Swords, and in the Aire Made horrid Circles. Ibid., XII. 643. They looking back, all th’ Eastern side beheld Of Paradise,… Wav’d over by that flaming Brand.
1671. T. Hunt, Abeced. Scholast., 90. Give a child as long as he will crave, and a dog as long as his tail will wave.
1828. Lytton, Pelham, xvii. The lady’s handkerchief waved in token of encouragement and triumph.
1896. Conan Doyle, Rodney Stone, vi. I see, too, the figures at the garden gate: my mother, with her face turned away, and her handkerchief waving.
† e. trans. In the Levitical law: To elevate and move from side to side (an oblation or wave-offering) before the altar. Obs.
First in Tindale, following Luther, who renders the verb by weben, and also has the compounds webebrot, webcbrust, webeopfer = wave-loaf, -breast, offering (see 13).
1530. Tindale, Exod. xxix. 24. And put all apon the handes of Aaron and on the handes of his sonnes: and waue them in and out a waueoffrynge vnto the Lorde. Ibid., Lev. xiv. 21. Let him bringe one lambe for a trespaceoffrynge to waue it. [So 1535 Coverdale; and all later versions.]
f. Occasional uses. Of a dog: To wag (his tail). Of a fish: To flap (a fin).
1677. Gilpin, Demonol., III. v. 31. The Devil … stands like a Fawning Dog scratching and waving his Tail.
1883. E. W. Gosse, in Longm. Mag., I. 559.
| Ah! what an azure day! | |
| Beneath the granite gray | |
| The sulky ferox lay | |
| And waved a fin. |
10. To signify (something) by a wave of the hand or arm. Also with dative of person.
1810. Scott, Lady of L., II. v. Perchance the maiden smiled to see Yon parting lingerer wave adieu.
1847. Tennyson, Princess, II. 84. She spoke, and bowing waved Dismissal.
1874. Sankey’s Sacred Songs (1878), 3.
| ‘Hold the Fort, for I am coming:’ | |
| Jesus signals still; | |
| Wave the answer back to heaven, | |
| ‘By thy grace we will.’ |
1878. Browning, La Saisiaz, 16. From no far mound Waved salute a tall white figure.
1888. Besant, Inner House, iii. The women wept and laughed at the same time, and waved them welcome.
b. To motion (a person, etc.) aside, away, back, in, off by a movement of the hand, etc.; also with preps. from, over, to, etc. Also fig.
1840. Dickens, Old C. Shop, lxxi. Waving them off with his hand, and calling softly to her as he went, he stole into the room.
1841. C. Whitehead, R. Savage, I. xi. 322. He waved me from him.
1854. Surtees, Handley Cr. (1901), I. i. 6. Michael took off his broad-brimmed, low-crowned hat, and waving in the pack, cheered them to the echo. Ibid., 7. He presently had the old hounds at his heels, and hat in hand he waved them over the wall.
1864. Mrs. H. Wood, Ld. Oakburn’s Dau., xxxvii. An attendant opened the door to see if anything might be wanted, but was waved away again.
1883. D. C. Murray, Hearts, ix. ‘There is a fire in the sitting-room,’ he said, closing the outer door and waving her along the hall.
1894. Mrs. H. Ward, Marcella, II. 100. Marcella waved him aside and ran on.
1914. H. James, in Q. Rev., April, 338. If we put ourselves questions we yet wave away doubts.
1916. W. Sanday, In View of End, 89. Hitherto the pacifist writings have been waved aside simply on the ground that they were pacifist.
c. intr. To make a sign by a wave of the hand.
1803. Edwin, I. xiii. 205. I waved to the door, and in silence proceeded to the tyrant.
1847. C. Brontë, Jane Eyre, xii. I retained my station when he waved to me to go, and announced:—‘I cannot think of leaving you, sir.’
1855. Tennyson, Maud, I. ix. 8. Rapidly riding far away, She waved to me with her hand.
1905. Mabel Barnes-Grundy, Vacill. Hazel, xvi. 219. He looks very miserable and cold and pinched. Poor old Sammy! I must wave to him.
d. trans. To mark (musical measures) by waving something.
1851. Mrs. Browning, Casa Guidi Wind., I. 804. All, to please The donna waving measures with her fan.
II. (From WAVE sb.)
11. To ornament with an undulating design; to make (something) wavy in outline.
1547. in in Feuillerat, Revels Edw. VI. (1914), 9. vj Couering of Bardes of clothe of golde wherof three ar waved with clothe of golde.
c. 1611. Chapman, Iliad, xxiii. 482. Arms … forged of brass, and waved about with tin.
1652. Culpeper, Eng. Physit. (1656), 137. Leavs … a little unevenly waved sometimes about the edges.
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 306. Shee … Her unadorned golden tresses wore Dissheveld, but in wanton ringlets wav’d As the Vine curles her tendrils.
1678. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., vi. 104. When one end of the Riglet you wave, is with the Vice Screwed to the plain side of the Rack. Ibid., 105. The Riglet will on its upper side receive the form of the several waves on the under side of the Rack, and also the form or Molding that is on the edge of the bottom of the Iron and so at once the Riglet will be both Molded and waved.
1686. trans. Chardin’s Trav. Persia, 394. The lower part of which Chappel is cover’d with large Tiles of Porphiry wav’d, and painted with Flowers.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), To Wave, to fashion, or make like the waves of the Sea; as watered Silks or Stuffs are.
1733. School of Miniature, 39. Finish … by fine thin Strokes,… waving and curling them according to the turn of the Hair.
1815. J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, II. 763. Strokes following the same direction, but gently waved.
1875. Swinburne, Ess. & Studies, 319. A head-dress of eastern fashion,… raised and waved and rounded in the likeness of a sea-shell.
1888. Sweet, Hist. Eng. Sounds, § 221. Earlier in the [11th] century they began to wave and lengthen the top tags of i, n, h, etc.
1909. Daily Chron., 1 Oct., 7/4. Hair that has been waved by hot irons till it is broken and irregular.
12. intr. To undulate in form or outline.
1789. J. Williams, Min. Kingd., I. 108. The horizontal coals … are found to wave considerably in several places.
1795. Anderson, Narr. Embassy China, 73. Its [sc. the river’s] course waves in the finest meanders.
1796. W. H. Marshall, W. Eng., II. 84. A slip or coomb, of water formed land, waving with the stream.
1859. Ruskin, Two Paths, iv. § 121. From this, and in subordination to this, waved the arch and sprang the pinnacle.
1883. Miss Broughton, Belinda, II. ix. Now and then the type waves up and down before her like the furrows of a ploughed field; but she reads on.
III. 13. The verb-stem in combination, in the names of the several offerings which, according to the Levitical law, were ‘waved’ (see 9 e) by the priest when presented in sacrifice, as wavebreast, -loaf, -offering, -sheaf; also wave-bread, a mod. synonym of wave-loaf.
1530. Tindale, Lev. vii. 30. Euen the fatt apon the brest he shall bringe with the brest to waue it a waueoffrynge before the Lorde. Ibid., 34. For the wauebrest and the heueshulder I haue taken of the childern of Israel. Ibid., xxiii. 17. And ye shall brynge out of youre habitacions two waueloaues.
1535. Coverdale, Lev. xxiii. 15. From the nexte days after the Sabbath, whan ye brought ye Waueshefe [1530 Tindale, the sheffe of the waueoffrynge].
1625. T. Godwin, Moses & Aaron, VI. ii. 268. These two words, Thenuphoth, and Therumoth; both signifie shake-offrings, heaue-offrings, or waue-offrings.
1879. Farrar, St. Paul, II. 297. Which with the wave-bread and the heave-shoulders the priest afterwards took as his own perquisites.
