Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Wade?

\Wade\, n. Woad. [Obs.] --Mortimer.
\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.
\Wade\, v. t. To pass or cross by wading; as, he waded ?he rivers and swamps.
\Wade\, n. The act of wading. [Colloq.]