WEB, web, _n._ that which is woven: anything resembling a web, as a roll of
cloth, paper, &c.: a plot, scheme: in birds, the blade of a feather:
(_anat._) any connective tissue: the fine texture spun by the spider as a
snare for flies: a film over the eye: the skin between the toes of
water-fowls.--_v.t._ to envelop, to connect with a web.--_adj._ WEBBED,
having the toes united by a web or skin.--_n._ WEB'BING, a narrow woven
fabric of hemp, used for chairs, &c.: (_zool._) the webs of the digits:
(_print._) tapes conducting webs of paper in a printing machine.--_adj._
WEB'BY.--_n._ WEB'-EYE, a film spreading over the eye.--_adjs._ WEB'-EYED;
WEB'-FING'ERED.--_n._ WEB'-FOOT, a foot the toes of which are united with a
web or membrane.--_adjs._ WEB'-FOOT'ED; WEB'-TOED.--WEB AND PIN (_Shak._),
or PIN AND WEB, cataract on the eye. [A.S. _webb_; Ice. _vefr_, Ger.
_gewebe_; from root of _weave_.]
WEBSTER, web'st[.e]r, _n._ (_obs._) a weaver. [A.S. _webbestre_, a female
weaver--_webban_, to weave.]
WECHT, weht, _n._ (_Scot._) an instrument for lifting grain. [Perh. conn.
with _weigh_.]
WED, wed, _v.t._ to marry: to join in marriage: to unite closely.--_v.i._
to marry:--_pr.p._ wed'ding; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ wed'ded or wed.--_adj._
WED'DED, married: belonging to marriage: clasped together.--_ns._ WED'DING,
marriage: marriage ceremony; WED'DING-BED, the bridal bed; WED'DING-CAKE, a
highly decorated cake served at a wedding, and also divided among absent
friends.--_n.pl._ WED'DING-CARDS, complimentary cards of a newly married
pair, sent to friends.--_ns._ WED'DING-DAY, day of marriage;
WED'DING-DOWER, marriage portion; WED'DING-DRESS, a bride's dress;
WED'DING-F[=A]VOUR, white rosette worn by men at a wedding;
WED'DING-GAR'MENT, garment worn at a wedding; WED'DING-RING, a plain ring
given by the groom to the bride at a wedding.--PENNY WEDDING, a wedding
where the guests paid for the entertainment, and sometimes contributed to
the outfit; SILVER, GOLDEN, DIAMOND WEDDING, the celebrations of the 25th,
50th, and 60th anniversaries of a wedding. [A.S. _weddian_, to engage, to
marry (Ger. _wetten_, to wager)--_wed_, a pledge; Goth. _wadi_, Ger.
_wette_, a bet.]
WED, wed, _n._ a pledge, security--(_Scot._) WAD.--_v.t._ to wager. [A.S.
_wed_, a pledge.]
WEDGE, wej, _n._ a piece of wood or metal, thick at one end and sloping to
a thin edge at the other, used in splitting: anything shaped like a wedge:
a mass of metal: at Cambridge, the man lowest on the list of the classical
tripos.--_v.t._ to cleave with a wedge: to force or drive with a wedge: to
press closely: to fasten with a wedge: to make into a wedge.--_v.i._ to
force one's way like a wedge.--_adjs._ WEDGED, cuneiform or wedge-shaped;
WEDGE'-SHAPED, having the shape of a wedge; WEDGE'-TAILED, having the tail
wedge-shaped or cuneate.--_adv._ WEDGE'WISE, in the manner of a
wedge.--_n._ WEDG'ING, a method of joining timbers.--WEDGE OF LEAST
RESISTANCE, the form in which a substance yields to pressure.--THE THIN, or
SMALL, END OF THE WEDGE, the insignificant-looking beginning of a principle
or practice which will yet lead to something great and important. [A.S.
_wecg_; Ice. _veggr_, Ger. _weck_, a wedge; prob. from the root of
_weigh_.]
WEDGWOOD WARE. See WARE.
WEDLOCK, wed'lok, _n._ marriage: matrimony.--BREAK WEDLOCK, to commit
adultery. [A.S. _wedlác_--_wed_, _-lác_, a gift.]
WEDNESDAY, wenz'd[=a], _n._ fourth day of the week. [A.S. _Wódenes dæg_,
the day of _Woden_ or _Odin_, the chief Teutonic deity.]
WEE, w[=e], _n._ a short distance, a short time.--_adj._ tiny. [Scand. form
of _way_; Dan. _vei_, Ice. _vegr_; not conn. with Ger. _wenig_, little.]
WEED, w[=e]d, _n._ any useless plant of small growth: anything useless or
troublesome; a sorry animal, a worthless fellow: (_coll._) a cigar.--_v.t._
to free from weeds: to remove anything hurtful or offensive.--_adjs._
WEED'ED, WEED'-GROWN, overgrown with weeds.--_n._ WEED'ER.--_n.pl._
WEED'ER-CLIPS (_Scot._), shears for weeding.--_ns._ WEED'ERY, a place full
of weeds; WEED'INESS; WEED'ING-CHIS'EL, -FOR'CEPS, -FORK, -HOOK, -TONGS
(_pl._) garden implements of varying forms for destroying weeds.--_adjs._
WEED'LESS; WEED'Y, weed-like, consisting of weeds; worthless. [A.S. _wéod_,
an herb.]
WEED, w[=e]d, _n._ a garment, esp. in _pl._ a widow's mourning
apparel.--_adj._ WEED'Y, clad in widow's mourning. [A.S. _w['æ]d_,
clothing; Old High Ger. _w[=a]t_, cloth; cf. _leinwand_.]
WEED, w[=e]d, _n._ (_Scot._) a popular name for any sudden illness, cold,
or relapse with febrile symptoms in women after confinement or nursing:
lymphangitis in the horse.--Also WEID.
WEEK, w[=e]k, _n._ the space of seven days, esp. from Sunday to Sunday: the
six working days of the week.--_n._ WEEK'DAY, any day of the week except
Sunday.--_adj._ WEEK'LY, coming, happening, or done once a week.--_adv._
once a week.--_n._ a publication appearing once a week.--WEEK ABOUT, in
alternate periods of seven days.--A PROPHETIC WEEK (_B._), seven years; A
WEEK OF SUNDAYS (_coll._), seven weeks: a long time; FEAST OF WEEKS, a
Jewish festival lasting seven weeks; GREAT WEEK, HOLY WEEK, PASSION WEEK,
the week preceding Easter Sunday; THIS DAY WEEK, a week from to-day. [A.S.
_wice_; Dut. _week_, Ger. _woche_.]
WEEK, w[=e]k, _n._ (_Spens._). Same as WICK.