2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Wade  \Wade\,  v.  i.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Waded};  p.  pr  &  vb  n. 
  {Wading}.]  [OE.  waden  to  wade,  to  go  AS  wadan;  akin  to 
  OFries  wada,  D.  waden,  OHG.  watan,  Icel.  va?a,  Sw  vada, 
  Dan.  vade,  L.  vadere  to  go  walk,  vadum  a  ford.  Cf  {Evade}, 
  {Invade},  {Pervade},  {Waddle}.] 
  1.  To  go  to  move  forward.  [Obs.] 
 
  When  might  is  joined  unto  cruelty,  Alas,  too  deep 
  will  the  venom  wade.  --Chaucer. 
 
  Forbear,  and  wade  no  further  in  this  speech.  --Old 
  Play. 
 
  2.  To  walk  in  a  substance  that  yields  to  the  feet;  to  move 
  sinking  at  each  step,  as  in  water,  mud,  sand,  etc 
 
  So  eagerly  the  fiend  .  .  .  With  head,  hands,  wings, 
  or  feet,  pursues  his  way  And  swims,  or  sinks,  or 
  wades,  or  creeps,  or  flies.  --Milton. 
 
  3.  Hence  to  move  with  difficulty  or  labor;  to  proceed  ?lowly 
  among  objects  or  circumstances  that  constantly  ?inder  or 
  embarrass;  as  to  wade  through  a  dull  book. 
 
  And  wades  through  fumes,  and  gropes  his  way 
  --Dryden. 
 
  The  king's  admirable  conduct  has  waded  through  all 
  these  difficulties.  --Davenant. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Wad  \Wad\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Waded};  p.  pr  &  vb  n. 
  {Wadding}.] 
  1.  To  form  into  a  mass,  or  wad,  or  into  wadding;  as  to  wad 
  tow  or  cotton. 
 
  2.  To  insert  or  crowd  a  wad  into  as  to  wad  a  gun;  also  to 
  stuff  or  line  with  some  soft  substance,  or  wadding,  like 
  cotton;  as  to  wad  a  cloak. 

browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
or search   thesauri dictionary search words