| 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&unr_;a, Sw. vada, Dan. vade, L. vadere to go, walk, vadum a ford. Cf. Evade, Invade, Pervade, Waddle. ] [ 1913 Webster ] 1. To go; to move forward. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ] When might is joined unto cruelty,
Alas, too deep will the venom wade. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ] Forbear, and wade no further in this speech. Old Play. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. To walk in a substance that yields to the feet; to move, sinking at each step, as in water, mud, sand, etc. [ 1913 Webster ] So eagerly the fiend . . .
With head, hands, wings, or feet, pursues his way,
And swims, or sinks, or wades, or creeps, or flies. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. Hence, to move with difficulty or labor; to proceed &unr_;lowly among objects or circumstances that constantly &unr_;inder or embarrass; as, to wade through a dull book. [ 1913 Webster ] And wades through fumes, and gropes his way. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ] The king's admirable conduct has waded through all these difficulties. Davenant. [ 1913 Webster ] |
