wage

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   something that remunerates

   wages were paid by check

2. 2
   verb

   carry on, such as wars, battles, or campaigns

   A power-hungry despot waged war against all of Europe.

3. 3
   noun

   An amount of money paid to a worker for a specified quantity of work, usually calculated on an hourly basis and expressed in an amount of money per hour.

   Before her promotion, her wages were 20% less.

4. 4
   verb

   To wager, bet.

   My life I never held but as a pawn / To wage against thine enemies

5. 5
   verb

   To expose oneself to, as a risk; to incur, as a danger; to venture; to hazard.

   I fear the power of Percy is too weak / To wage an instant trial with the King.

6. 6
   verb

   To employ for wages; to hire.

   Thenne said Arthur I wille goo with yow / Nay said the kynges ye shalle not at this tyme / for ye haue moche to doo yet in these landes / therfore we wille departe / and with the grete goodes that we haue goten in these landes by youre yeftes we shalle wage good knyghtes & withstande the kynge Claudas malyce

7. 7
   verb

   To conduct or carry out (a war or other contest).

   pond'ring which of all his Sons was fit / To Reign, and wage immortal War with Wit

8. 8
   verb

   To adventure, or lay out, for hire or reward; to hire out.

   Thou that doest liue in later times, must wage / Thy workes for wealth, and life for gold engage.

Etymology

From Middle English wage, from Anglo-Norman wage, from Old Northern French wage, a northern variant of Old French gauge, guage (whence modern French gage), Medieval Latin wadium, from Frankish *waddī (cognate with Old English wedd), from Proto-Germanic *wadją (“pledge”), from Proto-Indo-European *wedʰ- (“to pledge, redeem a pledge”). Akin to Old Norse veðja (“to pledge”), Gothic 𐍅𐌰𐌳𐌹 (wadi), Dutch wedde. Compare also the doublet gage. More at wed.