wait on meaning: definition, quotations

wait on

verb

US /ˈweɪt ˌɑn/ · UK /ˈweɪt ˌɒn/

10 senses

To provide a service to (someone); to act as a servant to (someone); to serve (someone) as a waiter or waitress in a restaurant.

Is someone waiting on you yet?
How now, Simple! where have you been? I must wait on myself, must I?c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:

2 more examples

[…] for such a large house there are very few servants, because master has never lived here much; and when he does come, being a bachelor, he needs little waiting on:1847 October 16, Currer Bell [pseudonym; Charlotte Brontë], chapter I, in Jane Eyre. An Autobiography. […], volume II, London: Smith, Elder, and Co., […], →OCLC, page 6:
“Run on, fellow. You can’t get waited on in here.” “I’ll stay right here until I do. I know my rights. […] I’ll get waited on all right, or sue the place.”1942, Zora Neale Hurston, chapter 9, in Dust Tracks on a Road, New York: Arno Press, published 1969, page 171:

Colloquial To wait for (a person).

I'm waiting on you before we can leave.
Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart:1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 27:14:

2 more examples

Be pleased to write to me by Rogers; who will wait on you for your answer, at your own time.1748, [Samuel Richardson], “Letter XXVI”, in Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady: […], volume VI, London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; [a]nd sold by John Osborn, […], →OCLC, page 89:
I'm not waiting on a lady / I'm just waiting on a friend1981, Jagger/Richards, “Waiting On A Friend”, in Tattoo You, performed by The Rolling Stones:

Colloquial To wait for (a thing, or an event to take place).

I'm waiting on the light to change.
[…] a time was coming […] when his waiting on events should have its reward.1874, Thomas Hardy, “Oak's Advancement— A Great Hope”, in Far from the Madding Crowd. […], volume II, London: Smith, Elder & Co., […], →OCLC, page 223:

2 more examples

[…] with grass mats over their heads and the raindrops puddling in their footprints, [they] waited on the weather.1900 December – 1901 October, Rudyard Kipling, chapter XIII, in Kim, London: Macmillan and Co., published 1901, →OCLC, page 340:
It was as though they [the gulls] waited upon some signal; as though some decision had yet to be given.1952, Daphne Du Maurier, “The Birds”, in Stories of Suspense, New York: Scholastic Book Services, published 1972, page 17:

To be in store for (someone).

the destruction that waits on Monarchs, who consider fidelity to them as the most degrading of all vices1796, Edmund Burke, “Letter I. On the Overtures of Peace.”, in Two Letters Addressed to a Member of the Present Parliament on the Proposals for Peace with the Regicide Directory of France, London: […] F[rancis] and C[harles] Rivington, […], published 20 October 1796, →OCLC, page 62:
Their wages wouldn’t even get them out of debt to my grandmother, not to mention the staggering bill that waited on them at the white commissary downtown.1969, Maya Angelou, chapter 1, in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, New York: Random House, pages 9–10:

Archaic To visit (someone) as a courtesy, on business or for ceremony.

In the Evening our Commander sent a Message to Mr. Jones, that if a Visit would not be troublesome he would wait on him.1749, Henry Fielding, chapter 13, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book VII, page 68:
The ladies of Longbourn soon waited on those of Netherfield. The visit was returned in due form.1813 January 27, [Jane Austen], chapter 6, in Pride and Prejudice: […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC, page 42:

2 more examples

[…] I went, as my custom was, into one of the best railroad carriages on the road. […] I was soon waited upon by the conductor, and ordered out;1855, Frederick Douglass, chapter 25, in My Bondage and My Freedom. […], New York; Auburn, N.Y.: Miller, Orton & Mulligan […], →OCLC, part II (Life as a Freeman), page 399:
Lest [my resolve] should break down, I took a stiff dose of whisky and waited on the Governor early.1937, Robert Byron, The Road to Oxiana, New York: Oxford University Press, published 1982, Part 3, p. 114:

Archaic To occur as a consequence of (something), to result from (something).

that ruine which waits upon such a supine temper1667, attributed to Richard Allestree, chapter 3, in The Causes of the Decay of Christian Piety. […], London: […] R. Norton for T. Garthwait, […], →OCLC, page 49:
For Blessings ever wait on virtuous Deeds; And tho’ a late, a sure Reward succeeds.1697, [William] Congreve, The Mourning Bride, a Tragedy. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, Act V, page 66:

1 more example

What is the worst of woes that wait on age?1812–1818, Lord Byron, “(please specify |canto=I to IV)”, in Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage. , London: John Murray,, stanza 98, page 118:

Archaic To carry out or perform (a duty, function, etc.).

Aaron and his sons […] shall wait on their priest’s office:1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Numbers 3:10:

Falconry, Hobbies, Hunting, Lifestyle Of a hawk To fly above its master, waiting till game is sprung.

US, Archaic, Colloquial To court (someone).

Archaic To obey and pay attention to (someone); to follow (a leader); to attend to (someone); to be subject to (someone).