Waiting

So this period of waiting in our lives continues... I'm not sure we're doing any of the following things Merriam-Webster defines as "waiting"...

¹wait

Pronunciation:

\ˈwāt\

Function:

verb

Etymology:

Middle English, from Anglo-French waiter, guaiter to watch over, await, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German wahta watch, Old English wæccan to watch — more at wake

Date:

14th century

transitive verb1: to stay in place in expectation of : await <waited the result of the advertisement — W. M. Thackeray> <wait your turn>2: to delay serving (a meal)3: to serve as waiter for <wait tables>intransitive verb1 a: to remain stationary in readiness or expectation <wait for a train> b: to pause for another to catch up —usually used with up2 a: to look forward expectantly waiting to see his rival lose> b: to hold back expectantly <waiting for a chance to strike>3: to serve at meals —usually used in such phrases as wait on tables or wait on table4 a: to be ready and available waiting by the bed> b: to remain temporarily neglected or unrealized wait>

— wait on also wait upon

1 a: to attend as a servant b: to supply the wants of : serve 2: to make a formal call on3: to wait for