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lie in wait

Variant of wait

wait definition

wait (wāt)

intransitive verb

to stay in a place or remain in readiness or in anticipation (until something expected happens or for someone to arrive or catch up)
to be ready or at hand dinner was waiting for them
to remain temporarily undone or neglected let that job wait
to serve food at a meal: with at or on to wait at table, to wait on a person

Etymology: ME waiten < NormFr waitier < Frank *wahten, to guard, akin to OHG wahta, a guard, watch: for IE base see wake

transitive verb

to be, remain, or delay in expectation or anticipation of; await to wait orders, to wait one's turn
Informal to delay serving (a meal) as in waiting for someone to wait dinner
Obsolete to attend upon or escort, esp. as a token of respect or honor
Obsolete to attend as a consequence

noun

the act or fact of waiting
a period of waiting a four-hour wait
in England,
1. any of a group of singers and musicians who go through the streets at Christmastime performing songs and carols for small gifts of money
2. any tune so performed
Obsolete a member of a band of musicians formerly employed by a city or town in England to play at entertainments
Obsolete a watchman

wait Idioms

lie in wait (for)

to wait so as to catch after planning an ambush or trap (for)

wait on

to act as a servant to
to call on or visit (esp. a superior) in order to pay one's respects, ask a favor, etc.
to result from; be a consequence of
to supply the needs or requirements of (a person at table, a customer in a store, etc.), as a waiter, clerk, etc.
Informal, Dialectal to wait for; await

wait out

to remain inactive during the course of

wait table

to serve food as a waiter or servant to people at a table

wait up