(a) Water as a naturally occurring element or substance; water as opposed to the other elements;—also pl.; wateres froren, the ice thought to surround the earth [quot. a1325]; (b) precipitation; atmospheric moisture, water vapor; a rainstorm, tempest; also, excess rainwater, overflow; cloudes withouten ~, fig. persons without substance, unstable or inconstant people.

In cpds., combs., and phrases: (a) ~ kin [OE wæter-cynn], ~ kinde, water considered with respect to its elemental properties; wateres ikinde, the essential nature of water, water itself; (b) astron. ~ heven, the crystalline sphere; spere of the ~, the watery sphere; (c) ~ storm, a tempest, cloudburst; (d) ~ drope, a drop of water, ?a raindrop; (e) ~ fal [see water-fal n. (b)]; ~ of the rein(es, rein ~ [OE rēn-wæter], rainwater [see also rein n.(1) 1b.(b)]; water(es of snou, snou ~, snowmelt [see also snou n. 3]; (f) ~ breth (vapoures), water vapor; ~ cloud, a thunderhead, raincloud; (g) ~ table, arch. a molding, cornice, or similar architectural element designed to deflect or channel rainfall from the roof or walls of a building.

(a) A body of water occurring naturally, an ocean, a lake, a river, an area of wetland, etc.; also, subterranean water, groundwater; the water contained in a sea, river, etc., river waters, sea waters, the depths, etc.; also fig.;—often pl.; also, the surface of a body of water as opposed to its depths; from the ~ ward, ?from the direction in which the water (of a river) lies; on the wateres, upon a ~, alongside a body of water, on the bank; to ~ ward (wardes), toward a body of water; (b) a spring, well, etc., esp. as a source of water for people or animals to drink or bathe in; the water of a spring; a watering place; also in fig. context; also, in proverbs and conventional comparisons; to the ~ ward, to a spring; (c) the water contained in a ditch or canal; ?also, a canal or ditch [last quot.]; also, an illusion of a lake [quot. c1395]; (d) a body of water or watercourse serving as a medium for sailing, navigable waters, sea lanes, etc.; also, water as a surface on which locomotion occurs; bi ~, over the water in a ship, by water; also iron. [quot. c1387-95]; lacchen (taken) the ~, to set out sailing; leven ~, come ashore; (e) in generalizing phrases: ~ and ston, fir and welken and ~ and lond, etc., all the elements, all that is, everything; bi ~ and (or) bi lond, bi ~ and bi stronde, in ~ and (in) lond, in wode in ~, etc., in any place, everywhere.

In cpds., combs., and phrases: (a) in names of specific bodies of water: ~ jordanem (of jordan), ~ of galile (humber, etc.), red (derwent, etc.) ~; ~ of contradiccioun, the springs of Massah and Meribah; ~ of helle, the River Styx; (b) indicating forms or varieties of bodies of water: ~ brim, a pool, pond; ~ cours, a channel or streambed, watercourse; ~ fal [see water-fal n. (a)]; ~ flod, q.v.; ~ gate [see water-gate n.(1) (b)]; ~ hep, a body or an expanse of water; ~ pit, pit of ~, a water hole, ?a cistern; ~ place, a public well or other source of water; ~ pole, a pool; ~ seth [OE wæter-sēaþ], a pond, pool, cistern; ~ spring, a spring, source;—used fig.; ~ stampe (stank), a pond; ~ strem, ?a body of running water; ?the current or flow of a body of water; ~ strinde (stronde), a stream; ~ theote [OE wæter-þēote], a spring, torrent; ~ washel, a watering place, bath; ~ wei [see water-wei n. (a),(c)]; wateres flod, a flowing of waters, a river; (c) in names of parts or features of bodies of water; also, in names for regions, locations, etc. adjacent to bodies of water: ~ banke, a slope or margin bordering a body of water; water(es brimme, the margin or shore of a body of water; ~ brinke, the bank of a stream; water(es fom, the foamy surface of the water; ~ frothe, sea foam; ~ ground, the bed of a body of water; ~ half, the side of a ship facing the water; water(es rime, ?the margin of the sea; ?the surface of the sea; ~ side, q.v.; wateres side, the shore; ~ stronde, the seashore, coast; ~ waues, ?moving waters; ~ wissinge (renninge), renninges of wateres, the flowing of a stream; ?currents; ful ~, high tide; whirlinges of wateres, eddies, whirlpools; (d) in designations of water of a specified character, from a particular source, etc.: ~ of clei, a muddy pond; ~ of the cler welle; cler ~; ded ~, a stagnant body of water;—used fig.; diche ~; fresh ~ [see fresh adj. 5.(c),(d)]; ground ~, water at the bottom of a stream; pipe ~, water channeled through a pipe or conduit; pole wateres, standing water, water from or in a pond; renninge ~; salt ~ [see salt-water n. (a)]; se water(es [OE sǣ-wæter], sea water; smothe (stille) ~; snoui ~; stondinge ~, stagnant water; also, standing water; temese ~, water from the River Thames; trouble ~; welle ~ [see also wel(le n.]; (e) ~ werres, werre upon the ~, werres of water(es, naval warfare, battles at sea.

(a) In cpds. and combs. denoting various plants, chiefly but not exclusively hydrophilous species: ~ ache, a member of a group of celerylike plants such as smallage, etc.; ~ bardane, burdock; esp., the common burdock Arctium lappa;~ bugle, a blue-flowered herb Ajuga reptans of the mint family; ~ clete, burdock; esp., the common burdock Arctium lappa; ~ cresse, q.v.; ~ calaminte, a plant of the genus Calamintha; ~ croue-fot, any of the various species of the genus Ranunculus (buttercup); ~ dokke, a plant of the genus Rumex; ~ flour, a flowering aquatic plant; ~ fole(s)-fot, the yellow water lily Nuphar luteum; ~ herbe, one of several aquatic plants used medicinally; ~ lemke, q.v.; ~ lilie, one of a group of aquatic plants belonging to the family Nymphaeacea; also, the narcissus [quot. ?a1439]; ~ minte, a plant of the genus Mentha Mentha aquatica; ~ shrubbe, a low-growing bush or reedy plant found in or near the water; ~ silie, q.v.; ~ sukel, ?sea clover; ?water dock; ~ wede, culrage Polygonum hydropiper; ~ wort [OE wæter-wyrt], maidenhair fern Aidantum capillus or Asplenium trichomanes; (b) in cpds. and combs. denoting various aquatic creatures: ~ beste, a creature that inhabits the water; ~ brid, a diving bird; ~ crabbe, a freshwater crab; ~ croue, ?a quail; ?a coot or water ouzel; ~ dogge, ?a dog that frequents the water; ~ finch, a songbird of the family Fringillida; ~ fish; ~ foul, a water bird, esp. a swimming bird;—also coll.; ~ hors, a hippopotamus; ~ leche [see water-leche n. (a),(b)]; ~ mous, q.v.; ~ naddre, q.v.; ~ nimphe, a sprite inhabiting and presiding over water; ~ wolf, a pike fish; ~ worm, a worm that lives in the water, specif. a leech; fresh ~ fish, a fish found in fresh water (as opposed to sea water).

In cpds. and combs. denoting: (a) activities pertaining to the management of water: ~ forwing, ?the construction of drainage ditches; ~ soundage, the measuring of the depth of a body of water; (b) an office entailing administrative responsibilities pertaining to the management of water or activities related to water: ~ baillie; also, the officer appointed to such duties: ~ baillif, q.v.; ~ greive, ?a royal official placed in charge of a waterway; ?a water steward; (c) tolls, rents, etc. exacted, or the right to exact such, for the use of a waterway, fishing rights, etc.: ~ gavel; ~ silver; ~ tol; (d) chiefly naut. various objects designed or intended for use in, on, or about the water: ~ adese; ~ axe; ~ baille (scope), a bailing bucket (scoop); ~ bord [see water-bord n. (a)]; ~ bote, a waterproofed boot; ~ hok, a fishhook; ~ leche [see water-leche n. (c)]; ~ lin, material for making waterproofed boots; ~ nail; ~ nauger; ~ seil, q.v.; spurne ~, a timber or raised channel at the edge of a deck to repel water; (e) structures designed to contain, divert, withstand, convey, span, etc. the waters of natural or manmade bodies of water: ~ brigge; ~ conduit, q.v.; ~ delf, a canal, drainage ditch; ~ fore (forwe), an irrigation channel or a ditch for drainage of a pasture; ~ gang [see water-gang n. (a)]; ~ gate [see water-gate n.(1) (a) & water-gate n.(2) (a)]; ~ leswe, ?a watercourse; ~ lode, q.v.; ~ pipe [see water-pipe n. (a)]; ~ seu, a drain, sewer; ~ sheteles, q.v.; ~ tour, ?a reservoir or cistern enclosed within fortifications; ~ trough, a water pipe or channel; ~ wal (wough), a retaining wall beside a body of water; a wall on either side of a mill wheel forming a sluice; ~ wei [see water-wei n. (b)]; ?~ were, a dam; ~ werk, a jetty or pier; gate of wateres, a watergate, floodgate; ledinge (to) of ~, a conduit, an aqueduct.

Water considered primarily with respect to its most obvious physical properties, as: (a) that which sustains human or animal life, a restorer or revitalizer; also, the antithesis of drought, that which moistens the earth, supports vegetation, etc.; also fig. and in fig. context; ~ lond (stoue), moist, well-watered soil; also, a region with moist, fertile soil [1st quot.]; ~ soggon, saturated with water; tres of ~, well-watered trees; (b) that which supports marine life, the aquatic environment; also in fig. context [quot. c1450]; (c) the antithesis of heat, the antagonist of fire, etc., a coolant or that which quenches fire; also fig. and in fig. context; also in proverbs; wateres drope, a drop of water; brennen wateres, fig. ?to employ logical contradictions in the service of one’s position in an argument; ?attempt the impossible; (d) that which drowns or inundates, submerges, destroys, etc.; also, hot water or steam applied or encountered injuriously; pl. floodwaters; also fig. and in fig. context; hot ~, scalding water, steam; leien in ~, fig. to allow the destruction of (sth.), throw overboard; (e) that which reflects light or images, offers a reflective surface, etc.; also, that which is lustrous or translucent, etc.; ~ of wateres, a paragon of luster, the benchmark whereby brilliance is judged; (f) that which embodies mutability, instability of form, constancy of motion, etc.; also, that which is yielding, without hardness or solidity of form;—freq. in proverbs and conventional comparisons; flouen with wateres, of the knees: to become weak and shaky, give way; (g) that which softens, dissolves, erodes, etc.;—chiefly in proverbs and conventional comparisons; also in fig.context.

Water considered primarily with respect to its principal uses by humans, as: (a) drinking water or a component of beverages; potable water as a commodity; the liquid base for medicinal drinks, potions, topical preparations, etc.; also, the medium for the administration of oral medication; a portion of drinking water, a drink, draft; bred and ~; leuk (swete, warm, etc.) ~; wateres god, potable water; ivel wateres, unsafe or unpleasant water, undrinkable water; (b) a solvent or cleanser for washing objects; a washing or rinse [2nd quot.]; also, a quantity of washing water or bathwater, water for bathing; also fig. and in fig. context; ?also, wastewater [quot. a1475(1438)]; cold (fresh, sulphuri, swete) ~; salt ~, q.v.; halwinge wateres, purifying waters;—used fig.; (c) a medium for boiling or cooking; a quantity of water for boiling food or other substances; clene (fair) ~; stondinge ~, ?water that has been left undisturbed in a vessel for some while; (d) a solvent, dilutant, etc. for miscellaneous chemical solutions; ~ mixte, ?a water-based fertilizer; (e) a source of hydraulic power; also in fig. context; bi ~, water-powered; (f) water or a quantity of water collected or contained in a vessel for an unspecified purpose; the water in a vessel; a galoun of ~.

In cpds. and combs. related to sense 4a.(a): (a) ~ bord [see water-bord n. (b)]; ~ drinche (drinke, shenche), wateres drinche (drinke), water for drinking, a drink of water; also in fig. context; ~ drinkere, a drinker of water; ~ drinkinge, the consumption of water as one’s only drink [could perh. be construed as a ppl. rather than a ger.]; ~ purveiaunce, a supply of drinking water; (b) ~ dai, eccl. a day on which water is drunk as an act of penitential self-denial; (c) ~ bed-ripe, a compulsory reaping service exacted by the lord of a manor at which only water was served [cp. ale-bed-rip, s.v. ale n. 4.(a)].

In cpds. and combs. related to one or more senses of 4a.: (a) in names of containers, vessels, receptacles, etc. for the storage, conveyance, or retrieval of water: ~ bouge, q.v.; ~ bulge, a water skin; ~ canne (cofre, fetles, stene, vessel), a water container, jug, ewer, etc.; ~ cart, a cart for carrying water; ~ chaufour, a vessel for heating water; ~ lavour, a basin for holding water for washing; ~ paile (so, tine, tubbe), a water bucket, tub, etc.; ~ potte, q.v.; ~ spoute, some sort of vessel for holding and pouring water; ~ ston [see water-ston n. (a)]; ~ tonne, a large water cask or barrel; (b) denoting transporters or purveyors of the commodity of water: ~ bere (berere, fecchere, secher); ~ ledere, q.v.; (c) ~ cloth [OE water-clāþ], a towel; ~ washen, drenched with water, water-soaked; (d) denoting objects, contrivances, or parts of contrivances operated by water power: ~ milne (milne-whele, whele, wind-milne); ~ pipe [see water-pipe n. (b)]; ~ shovele, q.v.; ~ windas, ?some sort of winch or hoisting apparatus; (e) ~ keie, a stopcock for a vessel; ~ receivinge, the action of receiving water.

A solution, an infusion, a decoction, etc. resulting from steeping, dissolving, or incorporating some other substance in water or from distilling water with other ingredients: (a) an herbal infusion for medicinal use, a medicinal preparation; the water in which wool has been boiled to extract lanolin; also, a lethally toxic solution, poison; (b) a cosmetic lotion; toilet water; (c) any of various chemical or alchemical agents; a caustic solution; ?an alcoholic spirit [quot. a1500, 1st].

In cpds., combs., and phrases denoting solutions, mixtures, decoctions, distillates, etc., incorporating water along with the other principal ingredient(s from which the name is taken, including: (a) comestible or potable substances: ~ gruel (potage), a thin porridge (soup) made with a large proportion of water; ~ soppe, a piece of bread dipped or soaked in water; ~ wine, ?wine diluted with water; (b) medicinal preparations, herbal infusions, tonics, antidotes, etc.: ~ of alum (salt, sugre, sulphur, etc.), alumous ~, brim-ston ~, a solution of alum (salt, sugar, brimstone, etc.) in water; ~ of barli (bran, holed ote-mele, etc.); ~ of baume (beteine, figes, ivi, roses, decoccioun of galles, etc.); ~ rose, madere (rose) ~; ~ of crabbe, water in which crabs have been boiled, used medicinally; ~ of flint (metal of bras, metal of silver), metalli ~, ?water in which minerals or metal ores have been infused through erosion of rocks over which the water runs; ~ of iren, ~ irened, ~ of smithes, irened ~, smithes ~, water in which heated iron has been plunged for cooling; ~ of maister pers, ~ imperial, felaues (maister pers) ~, medicinal preparations made with specific combinations of ingredients and thought to have special efficacy; fretinge (strong) ~, ~ corrosif, powerfully mundificative topical solutions; stilled ~, water distilled with herbal ingredients; tanne ~, water left from the tanning process, tanning liquid; (c) a cosmetic lotion; distilled wateres; (d) pigments, dyes, coloring solutions, etc. or chemical solutions employed in the production of pigments; ~ of sulphur, water in which brimstone is dissolved; blak (bleu, grene, red, tauni, yelwe) ~; brasile ~, a coloring agent made with brazilwood; gomme ~, a solution of gum arabic; lim ~, a solution of slaked lime; steininge wateres, dyes; (e) various alchemical decoctions or distillates: ~ ardaunt (corrosif, fort), brenninge ~, a powerful acid or solvent, caustic solution, etc.; ?strong alcoholic spirits; ~ of alkali, a solution of alkaline ash; ~ of lif, ?a highly reactive chemical solution; ?strong spirits; ~ of limaille, water containing suspended metal filings; ~ of litarge, a solution of lead acetate and perh. vinegar; ~ of mercurie, mercurie wateres, either aqua regia or bichloride of mercury.

Theol. & eccl. Water in liturgical uses or considered with respect to its symbolic significance [many exx. reflect conscious ambiguity or blurring of distinctions]: (a) water consecrated for liturgical or ritualistic purposes; ~ dasher, a holy water sprinkler, an aspergillum; ~ ston [see water-ston n. (b)]; holi ~, q.v.; (b) consecrated water employed in the Eucharist; also, fig. the water of spiritual refreshment, a well or spring of spiritual water; ~ of god, water(es of lif; ded ~ of fendes, fig. that which is spiritually destructive (in contrast to what precedes); (c) baptismal water; also, water employed in ritual purification or spiritual cleansing; ~ and creme; ~ of bapteme, bapteme ~; ~ of contricioun (penaunce, shrift, etc); (d) the water that issued from Christ’s pierced side;—sometimes with ref. to (b) and (c); ~ and blod, blod and ~.

Chiefly physiol. A physical exudation, secreted or excreted bodily fluid: (a) tears; wopi (wepinge) wateres; sheden (wepen) ~; casten ~ to sighte, drauen (fetten) ~ at eies, fecchen (fetten) ~ to eies, to bring tears to (someone’s) eyes; (b) urine; holden (kepen) ~, to be continent; loken ~, examine urine for diagnostic purposes; maken ~, urinate; also, cause someone to urinate [quot. ?a1450]; (c) sweat; sweten ~; al on a ~, in a sweat, sweat-soaked; (d) a discharge from a sore or wound, pus; morbid fluid, lymph; also, blood plasma, serum; red (venimous) ~; (e) hawk. thin or watery regurgitated matter; red ~; (f) amniotic fluid; (g) ?generative fluid;—prob. error for mater(e n. 4.(a); (h) watery humor, natural bodily moisture.

In cpds. and combs.: (a) ~ of teres, ~ teres (dropes), tears; ~ fallinge to eies, ~ that falleth to eies, flouing of ~, a condition of excessive watering or teariness of the eyes, rheuminess; ~ veines, fig. water gates (that restrain a flood of tears); salt ~ [see salt-water n. (c)]; teres of ~, physical tears (in contrast to tears of fire, i.e., spiritual tears); (b) ~ gate [see water-gate n.(2) (b)]; ~ makinge, urination; wenche ~, the urine of a young girl; (c) ~ of swetinge, sweat; (d) ~ fleume, watery phlegm; ~ sapied (soked), afflicted with morbid accumulation of fluid; ~ sik, q.v.; ~ siknesse, q.v.; (e) ~ lim, ?the female private parts; ~ shede (?= wateres hed), some part of the female urogenital tract, ?the hymen.

Fluid exuded from various organisms or organic substances: (a) sap or juice of plants; also, the watery fluid that issues from green wood when it is burned; (b) milk serum, whey; ~ of chese; (c) ~ of oistres, oyster liquor; wateres cristalline, clarified cooking juices.

In misc. cpds. and combs.: ~ boughes [OE wæter-bōg], extraneous roots growing from the base of a tree; also in fig. context; ~ chaumbre, q.v.; ~ colour, the hue of sea water; ~ cracche, ?a watering trough; ~ flesh, ?meat suitable to be boiled or stewed; ~ fother (mesure), some sort of measure used for water or employing water to establish a standard weight; ~ hous (chaumbre, ?a structure or room containing a water source; ~ lef, ?some sort of wavy or foliate pattern worked in fabric; ~ man, q.v.

Error for auter n.

(a) In surnames; (b) in place names [see Smith PNElem. 2.238].