Definitions for: Wag


[n] causing to move repeatedly from side to side
[n] (informal) a witty amusing person who makes jokes
[v] move from side to side, as of fingers and tails; "The happy dog wagged his tail"



Webster (1913) Definition: Wag, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Wagged; p. pr. & vb. n.
Wagging.] [OE. waggen; probably of Scand. origin; cf. Sw.
vagga to rock a cradle, vagga cradle, Icel. vagga, Dan.
vugge; akin to AS. wagian to move, wag, wegan to bear, carry,
G. & D. bewegen to move, and E. weigh. [root]136. See
Weigh.]
To move one way and the other with quick turns; to shake to
and fro; to move vibratingly; to cause to vibrate, as a part
of the body; as, to wag the head.

No discerner durst wag his tongue in censure. --Shak.

Every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished, and
wag his head. --Jer. xviii.
16.

Note: Wag expresses specifically the motion of the head and
body used in buffoonery, mirth, derision, sport, and
mockery.


Wag, v. i.
1. To move one way and the other; to be shaken to and fro; to
vibrate.

The resty sieve wagged ne'er the more. --Dryden.

2. To be in action or motion; to move; to get along; to
progress; to stir. [Colloq.]

``Thus we may see,'' quoth he, ``how the world
wags.'' --Shak.

3. To go; to depart; to pack oft. [R.]

I will provoke him to 't, or let him wag. --Shak.


Wag, n. [From Wag, v.]
1. The act of wagging; a shake; as, a wag of the head.
[Colloq.]

2. [Perhaps shortened from wag-halter a rogue.] A man full of
sport and humor; a ludicrous fellow; a humorist; a wit; a
joker.

We wink at wags when they offend. --Dryden.

A counselor never pleaded without a piece of pack
thread in his hand, which he used to twist about a
finger all the while he was speaking; the wags used
to call it the thread of his discourse. --Addison.

Synonyms: card, shake, waggle, waggle, wit

See Also: agitation, humorist, humourist, jiggle, joggle, wiggle

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