4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Wage  \Wage\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Waged};  p.  pr  &  vb  n. 
  {Waging}.]  [OE.  wagen,  OF  wagier,  gagier,  to  pledge, 
  promise,  F.  gager  to  wager,  lay,  bet,  fr  LL  wadium  a 
  pledge;  of  Teutonic  origin;  cf  Goth.  wadi  a  pledge, 
  gawadj[=o]n  to  pledge,  akin  to  E.  wed,  G.  wette  a  wager.  See 
  {Wed},  and  cf  {Gage}.] 
  1.  To  pledge;  to  hazard  on  the  event  of  a  contest;  to  stake; 
  to  bet,  to  lay;  to  wager;  as  to  wage  a  dollar.  --Hakluyt. 
 
  My  life  I  never  but  as  a  pawn  To  wage  against  thy 
  enemies.  --Shak. 
 
  2.  To  expose  one's  self  to  as  a  risk;  to  incur,  as  a  danger; 
  to  venture;  to  hazard.  ``Too  weak  to  wage  an  instant  trial 
  with  the  king.''  --Shak. 
 
  To  wake  and  wage  a  danger  profitless.  --Shak. 
 
  3.  To  engage  in  as  a  contest,  as  if  by  previous  gage  or 
  pledge;  to  carry  on  as  a  war. 
 
  [He  pondered]  which  of  all  his  sons  was  fit  To  reign 
  and  wage  immortal  war  with  wit.  --Dryden. 
 
  The  two  are  waging  war,  and  the  one  triumphs  by  the 
  destruction  of  the  other  --I.  Taylor. 
 
  4.  To  adventure,  or  lay  out  for  hire  or  reward;  to  hire  out 
  [Obs.]  ``Thou  .  .  .  must  wage  thy  works  for  wealth.'' 
  --Spenser. 
 
  5.  To  put  upon  wages;  to  hire;  to  employ;  to  pay  wages  to 
  [Obs.] 
 
  Abundance  of  treasure  which  he  had  in  store, 
  wherewith  he  might  wage  soldiers.  --Holinshed. 
 
  I  would  have  them  waged  for  their  labor.  --Latimer. 
 
  6.  (O.  Eng.  Law)  To  give  security  for  the  performance  of 
  --Burrill. 
 
  {To  wage  battle}  (O.  Eng.  Law),  to  give  gage,  or  security, 
  for  joining  in  the  duellum  or  combat.  See  {Wager  of 
  battel},  under  {Wager},  n.  --Burrill. 
 
  {To  wage  one's  law}  (Law),  to  give  security  to  make  one's 
  law.  See  {Wager  of  law},  under  {Wager},  n. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Wage  \Wage\,  v.  i. 
  To  bind  one's  self  to  engage.  [Obs.] 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Wage  \Wage\,  n.  [OF.  wage,  gage,  guarantee,  engagement.  See 
  {Wage},  v.  t.  ] 
  1.  That  which  is  staked  or  ventured;  that  for  which  one 
  incurs  risk  or  danger;  prize;  gage.  [Obs.]  ``That  warlike 
  wage.''  --Spenser. 
 
  2.  That  for  which  one  labors;  meed;  reward;  stipulated 
  payment  for  service  performed;  hire;  pay  compensation;  -- 
  at  present  generally  used  in  the  plural.  See  {Wages}.  ``My 
  day's  wage.''  --Sir  W.  Scott.  ``At  least  I  earned  my 
  wage.''  --Thackeray.  ``Pay  them  a  wage  in  advance.''  --J. 
  Morley.  ``The  wages  of  virtue.''  --Tennyson. 
 
  By  Tom  Thumb,  a  fairy  page,  He  sent  it  and  doth  him 
  engage,  By  promise  of  a  mighty  wage,  It  secretly  to 
  carry.  --Drayton. 
 
  Our  praises  are  our  wages.  --Shak. 
 
  Existing  legislation  on  the  subject  of  wages. 
  --Encyc.  Brit. 
 
  Note:  Wage  is  used  adjectively  and  as  the  first  part  of 
  compounds  which  are  usually  self-explaining;  as  wage 
  worker,  or  wage-worker;  wage-earner,  etc 
 
  {Board  wages}.  See  under  1st  {Board}. 
 
  Syn:  Hire;  reward;  stipend;  salary;  allowance;  pay 
  compensation;  remuneration;  fruit. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  wage 
  n  :  something  that  remunerates;  "wages  were  paid  by  check";  "he 
  wasted  his  pay  on  drink";  "they  saved  a  quarter  of  all 
  their  earnings"  [syn:  {pay},  {earnings},  {remuneration}, 
  {salary}] 
  v  :  as  of  wars,  battles,  or  campaigns;  "Napoleon  and  Hitler 
  waged  war  against  all  of  Europe"  [syn:  {engage}] 

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