weigh

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   have weight

   have import, carry weight

2. 2
   verb

   to be oppressive or burdensome

   The possible outcomes weigh heavily on their minds.

3. 3
   verb

   determine the weight of

   The butcher weighed the chicken

4. 4
   verb

   Often with "out", to measure a certain amount of something by its weight, e.g. for sale.

   He weighed out two kilos of oranges for a client.

5. 5
   verb

   To determine the intrinsic value or merit of an object, to evaluate.

   You have been weighed in the balance and found wanting.

6. 6
   verb

   To judge; to estimate.

   But ſhe thereof grew proud and inſolent, / That none ſhe worthie thought to be her fere, / But ſcornd them all, that loue vnto her ment; / Yet was ſhe lou’d of many a worthy pere, / Vnworthy ſhe to be belou’d ſo dere, / That could not weigh of worthineſſe aright.

7. 7
   verb

   To have a certain weight.

   I weigh ten and a half stone.

8. 8
   verb

   To have weight; to be heavy; to press down.

   If they ſhall faile, I with mine Enemies Will triumph o're my perſon, which I waigh not, Being of thoſe Vertues vacant.

Etymology

From Middle English weyen, from Old English wegan, from Proto-West Germanic *wegan, from Proto-Germanic *weganą (“to move, carry, weigh”), from Proto-Indo-European *wéǵʰeti, from *weǵʰ- (“to bring, transport”). Cognates Cognate with Scots wey, wee, Dutch wegen, German wiegen, wägen, Danish veje, Norwegian Bokmål veie, Norwegian Nynorsk vega. Doublet of wedge, wagon, way, and vector.