waver

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   To swing or wave, especially in the air, wind, etc.

   To swing or wave, especially in the air, wind, etc.; to flutter.

   • Flowers wavered in the breeze.
2. 2

   To move without purpose or a specified destination

   To move without purpose or a specified destination; to roam, to wander.

   • [T]here vvere tvvo Channels, one on the North, another on the South, vvhere through the fiſher-men did vvander and vvauer vp to Norvvitch, and diuers parts of Suffolke and Norfolke, […]
   • Michael watched him down the corridor, saw him waver into the dusky street.
3. 3

   To sway back and forth, as if about to fall

   To sway back and forth, as if about to fall; to reel, to stagger, to totter.

   • Tom often heard her praying, as she wavered and trembled, and seemed about to fall down.
4. ›+ 19 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      To begin to weaken or show signs of weakening in resolve

      To begin to weaken or show signs of weakening in resolve; to falter, to flinch, to give way.

      • Despite all the terrible things that happened to her, she never wavered from her beliefs.
      • The capitayn […], to thentent to ſhewe hymſelfe valiante and not willyng to breake hys othe, neither to wauer frõ [from] hys allegeance, boſted that he would rather dye in the defence then frely yeld the caſtle.
      • [H]eerein thou vvauereſt and doubteſt.
   2. 5

      To feel or show doubt or indecision

      To feel or show doubt or indecision; to be indecisive between choices; to vacillate.

      • […] I ſhall not much vvaver to affirm that thoſe vvords vvhich are made to intimate, as if they forbad all divorce but for adultery […] thoſe vvords tak'n circumſcriptly, […] are as much againſt plain equity, and the mercy of religion, […]
      • Let not that man think that he shall obtain anything from the Lord. What man? Why, he that doubteth or wavereth in his mind, about the truth of the mercy of God in Christ; […]
   3. 6

      Of a body part such as an eye or hand, or the voice

      Of a body part such as an eye or hand, or the voice: to become unsteady; to shake, to tremble.

      • His voice wavered when the reporter brought up the controversial topic.
      • "No," replied the old man, wavering in his voice, no less than in his manner. "No. Let us go on. I am ready. I am quite ready, Nell."
      • The clear voice faltered—the lithe form stooped— / The white hands wavered—the bright head drooped— / The trumpets quavered, the lights burned blue, / And the Goddess died—as Goddesses do.
   4. 7

      Of light, shadow, or a partly obscured thing

      Of light, shadow, or a partly obscured thing: to flicker, to glimmer, to quiver.

      • [U]nder the Roman empire, men's notions of mechanical relations became faint, wavered, and disappeared, […]
      • [T]he shadow of the flowers / Stole all the golden gloss, and, wavering / Lovingly lower, trembled on her waist— / Ah, happy shade—and still went wavering down, […]
   5. 8

      Chiefly of a quality or thing

      Chiefly of a quality or thing: to change, to fluctuate, to vary.

      • [T]he Englyſhe affaires (as you haue heard) within yͤ realme began to wauer, and waxe variable, whyche cauſed the Engliſhe capitaines, to be of diuerſe opinions.
      • [D]uring the whole space of time just mentioned, Mr. Benjamin Allen had been wavering between intoxication partial and intoxication complete.
   6. 9

      Followed by from

      Followed by from: to deviate from a course; to stray, to wander.

   7. 10

      Of the wits

      Of the wits: to become confused or unsteady; to reel.

      • I am hungry, and I am vveary, and I cannot find him. / Keep my wits heaven, I feele 'em wavering, / O God my head.
   8. 11

      To cause (someone or something) to move back and forth.

      • [I]f the Admirall ſhall happen to hull in the night: then to make a wauering light ouer his other light, wauering the light vpon a pole.
      • A third wauered and wagled his head, like a proud horſe playing with his bridle, or as I haue ſeene ſome fantaſticall ſwimmer, at euerie ſtroke train his chin ſide-long ouer his left ſhoulder.
   9. 12

      To cause (someone) to begin to or show signs of weakening in resolve

      To cause (someone) to begin to or show signs of weakening in resolve; also (rare), to weaken in resolve due to (something).

      • Th'vnconſtant Barrons, vvauering euery houre, / The fierce encounter of this raging tyde, / No ſtrategem yet ſtrongly policied; […]
   10. 13

       An act of moving back and forth, swinging, or waving

       An act of moving back and forth, swinging, or waving; a flutter, a tremble.

       • No a bit butterflee on its silent waver, meeting the murmur of the straightforward bee.
       • By turns she sat watching the waver of the candles in the draught, and walked to and fro between the bed and the washhand-stand to keep herself warm.
   11. 14

       A state of beginning to weaken or showing signs of weakening in resolve

       A state of beginning to weaken or showing signs of weakening in resolve; a falter.

   12. 15

       A state of feeling or showing doubt or indecision

       A state of feeling or showing doubt or indecision; a vacillation.

   13. 16

       One who waves their arms, or causes something to swing or wave.

       • I felt encouraged by all the enthusiastic wavers in the crowd.
       • The Fourth of July brings out all the flag wavers.
       • Johnny is such a little waver; everyone who passes by receives his preferred greeting.
   14. 17

       A person who specializes in treating hair to make it wavy.

   15. 18

       A tool used to make hair wavy.

   16. 19

       In full waver roller

       In full waver roller: a roller which places ink on the inking table of a printing press with a back and forth, waving motion.

   17. 20

       Synonym of waverer (“one who feels or shows doubt or indecision

       Synonym of waverer (“one who feels or shows doubt or indecision; a vacillator”).

   18. 21

       A sapling or other young tree left standing when other trees around it have been felled.

       • It is a very ordinary Copſe vvhich vvill not afford three or four Firſts, that is, Beſts; fourteen Seconds; tvvelve Thirds; eight VVavers, &c. according to vvhich proportions the ſizes of young Trees in Copſing are to ſucceed one another.
   19. 22

       A river in northern Cumbria, England, which flows into the Solway Firth.

The neighborhood

• neighborwave
• neighborfirst-waver
• neighbornew waver
• neighborsecond-waver
• neighborthird-waver