A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Waik, Wak(e, v. Also: vaik, wayk, wiek, weak. P.p. also weakt. [ME and e.m.E. waken, wakien, wokien (all Layamon), woke(n (c1275), wayken (Chaucer), weyk (c1400), weak (a1536).] tr. To weaken, to cause to become weak or enfeebled. a. Of a person's body or strength. Also absol. b. Of the mind, feelings, etc.a. c1475 Wall. viii 286.
Was nayne sa strang, that gat off him a strak, Eftir agayne maid neuir a Scot to waik 1562-3 Winȝet II 58/30.
The hail body decay and perise, or be monstruous, or at the leist, be waikit a1568 Scott xxxiv 14.
Ane fowsum appetyte, That strenth of persoun waikis(b) a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 329 (Asl.).
Men wakit throu lauboure … Throw meit and drinke restoris thare nature(c) c1590 Fowler I 52/142.
As a man by feawers weaktabsol. 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 25.
Trauaill & greit fasting mundifeis (I grant) bot vaikis thair withb. a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 234 (Harl.).
This wrechit wardill safer wakis oure wit c1490 Irland Asl. MS 29/25.
The passioun … faylis and is waykit 1490 Irland Mir. III 54/37.
Pennaunce … distroyis nocht the inclinacioun … bot it waikis that inclinacioun … that it haue nocht regne na dominacioun in the saule 1513 Doug. ix x 50.
Nor ȝit the slaw nor febill onweldy age May waik our spreit, nor mynys our curage
c. To reduce (a country, etc.) in strength, to diminish, hinder (a cause).(a) 1549 Lamb Resonyng 41/27.
Ane … weir … quharthrow the puissance of his nephewis realme micht be debilitate and waikit 1490 Irland Mir. III 148/13.
The gret empyr of Rome … is gretlie wakyt and diminuit(b) 1565 Cal. Sc. P. II 207.
[They intend to gather their forces … and] wiek [the noblemen … sustaining this cause]
d. intr.To become weak or soft. a1538 Abell 46b.
Eftir at the Britonaris … had expellit the Saxonis thai wakit till ydilnes & delitis
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"Waik v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Jan 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/waik_v>