Middle English Dictionary Entry
wāveren v.
Entry Info
| Forms | wāveren v. Also wavere, waveron, wavir, waferen, wafir, vavere; sg.3 waverit; ppl. wavering(e, etc. & (K) weverinde, (16th cent.) waiverand, waiveronde; p. (N) wavurd, (16th cent.) waverit. |
| Etymology | Prob. ON: cp. OI vafra, or perh. from OE (cp. OE wǣfre wavering); also cp. ME wāven v. &, for forms in wai- & wē-, weiven v.(2) & wēven v.(2) respectively. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To move back and forth; shift, swing; move unsteadily, totter; also in fig. context [quot. a1450, 2nd occurrence]; also, bob; ben wavered, shift position;
(b) to wander; ~ abouten (here and ther); ppl. waveringe, wandering; vagrant; of a physical ailment: given to moving from one part of the body to another [quot. c1450(?c1425)];
(c) of a person's body: to shake, tremble, or convulse;
(d)fig. to be unstable, be changeable; also, deviate from spiritual concerns; ppl. waveringe, unstable, changeable; also, wandering among inappropriate objects of attention, straying; also, as noun: those who waver (in heart) [quot. 1434].
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)54b/b : Be þer had…a pipe…wyndowed, in which be enclined þe to partie of þe lippe, & be not wauered in puttyng in þe nedle.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)198/15 : Sche…went waueryng on eche syde as it had ben a dronkyn woman.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)518 : Wawyn, or waueryn, yn a myry totyr: Oscillo.
- c1450(c1415) Roy.Serm.(Roy 18.B.23)194/35 : A wode hownde he goys euermore withe…is tounge waverynge owte of is mowthe.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)5449 : Of many grete fysche was he warr, wauerand in þe flode.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)2.271 : As þe stubbyl, whyl þe wynd blowith, waueryt & flyyth aboutyn in þe eyr…ryȝt so þis proud coueytous folc waueryn in þis world in welþe and worchepe.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)8266 : All in wer for to walt, wayueronde he sote, But he held hym on horse.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)10151 : Philmen…Greuit hym full gretly, gert hym to stoupe, Þat he wauerit þerwith, & weikly he sete.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)13546 : The salt water sadly sanke in my wombe, Þat I…wayuerand, weike, wan to the lond.
b
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)39/111 : Thou shalle be waferyng here and þere…Out-castyn shal þou be.
- c1450(?c1425) St.Mary Oign.(Dc 114)150/1 : She callyd sum preste, þat shulde make a crosse wiþ his fynger on the sore place of seeknesse; and þe yuel fledde to an noþer place…he made a crosse & þe wauerynge [L vagus] yuel and fleynge durst no lenger abyde þe birþen of þe crosse, butte atte laste wente alle awey fro þe body of Cristys mayden.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)490/7 : Þai waxed so pure at þai wavurd aboute here & þer.
- (1475) Doc.Middx.in MELDv2017.1/D4197#38 : For to eschewe noise, damage, and debate whiche is wont to falle by the meane of Dogges waveryng in the stretes of this Citee, Jt is ordeyned..
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)136b : To Wafyr [Monson: Vavere] Abowt…vagari, palare.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)210/30 : A boole lefte the flocke of his owene felaschip and ȝede waferyng with othur bestis as his luste lad hym.
c
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)73.175 (v.2:p.51) : Whan .. his bodye lay tremelyng and waueryng [L palpitaret] on the grounde, the cruel lictour toke his dagger or his knyfe and shofe it in atte his side.
d
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)16/424 : Þi bileaue of ihesu crist His nou al weuerinde.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)167b/a : It is of a stable leche for to stande in certaine þinges & approued & of a vaueryng soule or wille for to walke pilgrimage by many þinges.
- (1434) Misyn ML (Corp-O 236)130/1 : In body truly voyde & wauerand in hart ar not worþi to taste & see how sweit our lorde is.
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)63/20 : He truly deuoutly þat prays has not his hart wauyrand in erthlye þingis.
- (c1438) MKempe B (Add 61823)230/15 : Wauyr nowt in thy feith.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)518 : Waueron, yn hert for vnstabylnesse: Muto.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.263 : Thise worldly þinges…chaungen evire…wauerynge so with-outen gouernour.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)424/30 : He went vnto his prayers, & stude with…a waveryng mynde.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)87/13 : The othir age that cometh aftir is…vndiscrete and waveryng [F vague].
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)97 : Þat he…not be dul in the feithe, ne wauere in the comavndementes of god.