waft

English

/wɑft/, /wɒft/, /wɑːft/, /wæft/

verb

Definitions

(ergative) To (cause to) float easily or gently through the air.
(intransitive) To be moved, or to pass, on a buoyant medium; to float.
To give notice to by waving something; to wave the hand to; to beckon.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English waften inherited from Old English *wafettan, wafian (wave, fluctuate, wonder, waver in mind, sway) derived from Middle Dutch wachten (guard, keep watch, wait, watch).

Origin

Middle Dutch

wachten

Gloss

guard, keep watch, wait, watch

Concept

Semantic Field

Warfare and hunting

Ontological Category

Person/Thing

Emoji

💂 💂‍♀️ 💂‍♂️

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms

upwaft English
waftage English
wafture English
wafty English
wachten Dutch, Flemish
*wabōną Proto-Germanic
*wafettan Old English
wafian Old English
waffen Middle English
waften Middle English
waven Middle English
wachte Middle Dutch
wachten Middle Dutch
*wahton Old Dutch