waiting

Noun · Adjective

WordNet 3.0

Noun (1)

the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)“the wait was an ordeal for him”Synonyms: wait

Adjective (1)

being and remaining ready and available for use“waiting cars and limousines lined the curb”“found her mother waiting for them”“an impressive array of food ready and waiting for the guests”“military forces ready and waiting”Synonyms: ready and waiting(p)

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Wait \Wait\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Waited; p. pr. & vb. n. Waiting.] [OE. waiten, OF. waitier, gaitier, to watch, attend, F. guetter to watch, to wait for, fr. OHG. wahta a guard, watch, G. wacht, from OHG. wahh[=e]n to watch, be awake. [root]134. See Wake, v. i.] [1913 Webster]

1.To watch; to observe; to take notice. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

"But [unless] ye wait well and be privy, I wot right well, I am but dead," quoth she.— Chaucer.[1913 Webster]

2.To stay or rest in expectation; to stop or remain stationary till the arrival of some person or event; to rest in patience; to stay; not to depart. [1913 Webster]

All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.— Job xiv. 14.[1913 Webster]

They also serve who only stand and wait.— Milton.[1913 Webster]

Haste, my dear father; 't is no time to wait.— Dryden.[1913 Webster] [1913 Webster]

To wait on or To wait upon. (a) To attend, as a servant; to perform services for; as, to wait on a gentleman; to wait on the table. "Authority and reason on her wait." --Milton. "I must wait on myself, must I?" --Shak. (b) To attend; to go to see; to visit on business or for ceremony. (c) To follow, as a consequence; to await. "That ruin that waits on such a supine temper." --Dr. H. More. (d) To look watchfully at; to follow with the eye; to watch. [R.] "It is a point of cunning to wait upon him with whom you speak with your eye." --Bacon. (e) To attend to; to perform. "Aaron and his sons . . . shall wait on their priest's office." --Num. iii. 10. (f) (Falconry) To fly above its master, waiting till game is sprung; -- said of a hawk. --Encyc. Brit. [1913 Webster]

Waiting \Wait"ing\, a. & n. from Wait, v. [1913 Webster]

In waiting, in attendance; as, lords in waiting. [Eng.]

Waiting gentlewoman, a woman who waits upon a person of rank.

Waiting maid, Waiting woman, a maid or woman who waits upon another as a personal servant. [1913 Webster]