(a) To offer surety (for sb. that he will not do sth.), guarantee;—also refl.; also, ?offer security or certainty [2nd quot.]; (b) to give (sth.) as a pledge or as surety; also, pay (a ransom, compensation); ~ glove, issue or accept a challenge (to fight); ~ oth, swear (that sth. is the case); ~ the pes, swear to keep the peace (with regard to sth.); ~ treues, give guarantees that one will cease hostilities; (c) to pledge (sb.) as a surety, deliver (oneself into the hands of sb.) as a surety; also, ?entrust (oneself to someone’s mercy) [2nd quot.]; (d) ?to indemnify (sb.); ?compensate (sb.) for injuries.

To put (sth.) up as a stake pending the outcome of an event; hazard (sth.); also, with diminished force: venture to say (sth., that sth. will occur), bet [1st quot.].

(a) To engage (sb.), hire, employ; pay wages to (sb.); take (sb.) into domestic service; ?also, bribe (sb.) [quot. 1461]; waged man, a hired man; wel waged, liberally compensated; (b) to take (sb.) into military service, enlist; hire (soldiers) as mercenaries; also, lease (ships) for use in war [quot. 1417]; waged men, hired soldiers, mercenaries; (c) to reward (sb.) with his just deserts;—used iron.

In phrase: ~ bataille, to agree to engage in combat; also, challenge (sb.) to fight [last quot.].

Law In phrase: ~ (his, theire) laue, to defend an action by offering to make an oath, supported by guarantors, of one’s innocence, nonindebtedness, etc.

Refl. to be competent, be able to fend for oneself (= welden v., sense 4.(b)).