Wade (?), n. Woad. [Obs.]
Mortimer.
Wade (?), v. i. [imp. & p.
p. Waded; p. pr. & vb. n.
Wading.] [OE. waden to wade, to go, AS. wadan; akin to
OFries. wada, D. waden, OHG. watan, Icel.
va?a, Sw. vada, Dan. vade, L. vadere to go,
walk, vadum a ford. Cf. Evade, Invade,
Pervade, Waddle.]
1. To go; to move forward. [Obs.]
When might is joined unto cruelty,
Alas, too deep will the venom wade.
Chaucer.
Forbear, and wade no further in this
speech.
Old Play.
2. To walk in a substance that yields to the feet;
to move, sinking at each step, as in water, mud, sand, etc.
So eagerly the fiend . . .
With head, hands, wings, or feet, pursues his way,
And swims, or sinks, or wades, or creeps, or flies.
Milton.
3. Hence, to move with difficulty or labor; to
proceed ?lowly among objects or circumstances that constantly ?inder or
embarrass; as, to wade through a dull book.
And wades through fumes, and gropes his
way.
Dryden.
The king's admirable conduct has waded through all
these difficulties.
Davenant.Wade, v. t. To pass or cross by wading;
as, he waded ?he rivers and swamps.
Wade (?), n. The act of wading.
[Colloq.]