wag

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Contents

English [edit]

Etymology [edit]

Middle English waggen, noun wagge, feminine root of Old English waian, (Middle English noun wae) to oscillate, shake. Compare the Old English verb waġian

The verb may be regarded as an iterative or emphatic form of waian waw, verb, which is often nearly synonymous; it was used, e.g., of a loose tooth. Parallel formations from the same root are the Old Norse vagga feminine, cradle (Swedish vagga, Dutch vugge), Swedish vagga (to rock a cradle), early modern German waggen (dialectal German wacken) to waver, totter. Compare waggle, verb

Pronunciation [edit]

Verb [edit]

wag (third-person singular simple present wags, present participle wagging, simple past and past participle wagged)

  1. To swing from side to side, especially of an animal's tail
  2. (slang) To not go to school, either for a class or classes or the entire school day.
    • 1848, Charles Dickens, Dombey and Son, xxii
      "My misfortunes all began in wagging, Sir; but what could I do, exceptin' wag?" "Excepting what?" said Mr. Carker. "Wag, Sir. Wagging from school." "Do you mean pretending to go there, and not going?" said Mr. Carker. "Yes, Sir, that's wagging, Sir."
    • 1901, William Sylvester Walker, In the Blood, i. 13
      They had "wagged it" from school, as they termed it, which..meant truancy in all its forms.

Derived terms [edit]

  • (not go to school): play the wag; hop the wag; wag it

Translations [edit]

See also [edit]

Noun [edit]

wag (plural wags)

  1. An oscillating movement.
    The wag of my dog's tail expresses happiness.
  2. A witty person.

Translations [edit]

See also [edit]

References [edit]

Anagrams [edit]


Afrikaans [edit]

Etymology 1 [edit]

From Dutch wacht.

Noun [edit]

wag (plural wagte)

  1. guard
Derived terms [edit]

Etymology 2 [edit]

From Dutch wachten

Verb [edit]

wag (past participle gewag)

  1. to wait

German [edit]

Pronunciation [edit]

Verb [edit]

wag

  1. Imperative singular of wagen.
  2. (colloquial) First-person singular present of wagen.