Why, n. A young heifer. [Prov. Eng.] Grose.
{ Whyd"ah bird` (?), or Whyd"ah finch` (?) }. (Zoöl.) The whidah bird.
Why"-not` (?), n. A violent and peremptory procedure without any
assigned reason; a sudden conclusive happening. [Obs.]
When the church Was taken with a why-not in the lurch.
Hudibras.
This game . . . was like to have been lost with a why- not.
Nugæ Antiq.
Wich (?), n. A variant of 1st Wick.
Wich"i*tas (?), n. pl.; sing. Wichita (&?;). (Ethnol.) A tribe of
Indians native of the region between the Arkansas and Red rivers. They
are related to the Pawnees. See Pawnees.
{Wick (?), or Wich (?) }, n. [AS. wc village, fr. L. vicus. In some
names of places, perhaps fr. Icel. vk an inlet, creek, bay. See
Vicinity, and cf. Villa.]
1. A street; a village; a castle; a dwelling; a place of work, or
exercise of authority; — now obsolete except in composition; as,
bailiwick, Warwick, Greenwick. Stow.
2. (Curling) A narrow port or passage in the rink or course, flanked by
the stones of previous players.
Wick (?), n. [OE. wicke, weyke, weke, AS. weoca or wecca; cf. D. wiek a
roll of lint, Prov. G. wicke, and wieche, OHG. wiohha, Sw. veke, Dan.
væge; of uncertain origin.] A bundle of fibers, or a loosely twisted or
braided cord, tape, or tube, usually made of soft spun cotton threads,
which by capillary attraction draws up a steady supply of the oil in
lamps, the melted tallow or wax in candles, or other material used for
illumination, in small successive portions, to be burned.
But true it is, that when the oil is spent The light goes out, and wick
is thrown away.
Spenser.
Wick, v. i. (Curling) To strike a stone in an oblique direction.
Jamieson.
Wick"e (?), a. Wicked. [Obs.] Piers Plowman. "With full wikke intent."
Chaucer.
Wicked (?), a. Having a wick; — used chiefly in composition; as, a
two-wicked lamp.
Wick"ed (?), a. [OE. wicked, fr. wicke wicked; probably originally the
same word as wicche wizard, witch. See Witch.]
1. Evil in principle or practice; deviating from morality; contrary to
the moral or divine law; addicted to vice or sin; sinful; immoral;
profligate; — said of persons and things; as, a wicked king; a wicked
woman; a wicked deed; wicked designs.
Hence, then, and evil go with thee along, Thy offspring, to the place
of evil, hell, Thou and thy wicked crew!
Milton.
Never, never, wicked man was wise.
Pope.
2. Cursed; baneful; hurtful; bad; pernicious; dangerous. [Obs.] "Wicked
dew." Shak.
This were a wicked way, but whoso had a guide.
P. Plowman.
3. Ludicrously or sportively mischievous; disposed to mischief;
roguish. [Colloq.]
Pen looked uncommonly wicked.
Thackeray.
Syn. — Iniquitous; sinful; criminal; guilty; immoral; unjust;
unrighteous; unholy; irreligious; ungodly; profane; vicious;
pernicious; atrocious; nefarious; heinous; flagrant; flagitious;
abandoned. See Iniquitous.
Wick"ed*ly, adv. In a wicked manner; in a manner, or with motives and
designs, contrary to the divine law or the law of morality; viciously;
corruptly; immorally.