wave 
5. To signal by a wave of the hand, or of a flag. 
a handkerchief, or the like; direct by a waving 
gesture or other movement, as in beckoning. 
We mistrusted some knaueiy, ami, Ijeing waued by them 
to come a shnare, yet we would nr)t. 
Uakluyt's Voyages, II. ii. S3. 
Look, with what courteous action 
It waoeu you to a more removed ground. 
Skak., Hamlet, i. 4. 01. 
6. To express, as a command, direction, fare- 
well, etc., by a waving movement or gesture. 
Perchance the maiden smiled to see 
Von parting lingerer tcape adieu. 
ScM, L. of the L, ii. 5. 
I retained my station when he leaeeU to me to go, and 
announced, "I can not think of leaving you, sir." 
Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre, lii. 
7. To water, as silk. See wafer, i: t, 3. 
The waoed water cijamt.lot was from the Ijeginnijig es- 
teemed the richest and liravest wearing. 
UUland, tr. of Pliny, viii. 48. 
wavel (wav), H. [< ME. *icace, waive; < ware, 
t. The word trace in its most common sense 
has taken the place, in literary use, of the diff. 
noun waw, wawe, a wave. The form wawe could 
not, however, change into wave: see wawl. 
The noun icaie, as well as the verb, has been 
confused with waive^.^ 1. A disturbance of 
the surface of a body in the form of a ridge and 
trough, propagated by forces tending to restore 
the surface to its figure of equilibrium, the 
particles not advancing with the wave. 
No (hip yit karf the wairen grene and Idewe. 
Chaucer, Former Age, 1. 21. 
When you ilo dance, I wish you 
A wave o' the sea, that you might ever do 
Nothing but that. Shak., W. T., iv. 4. 141. 
2. Water; a stream; the sea. [Poetical.] 
The laughing tides that lave 
These Edens of the eastern tcane. 
Byron, The Giaour. 
3. A form assumed by parts of a body which 
are out of equilibrium, such that as fast as the 
particles return they are replaced by others 
moving into neighboring positions of stress, 
so that the whole disturbance is continually 
propagated into new parts of the body while 
preserving more or less perfectly the same 
shape and other characters, in a somewhat wider 
sense the word is apjilied In cases where there is no 
progression through the lx)dy; thus, the shape of a vi- 
brating piano-string may be called a uuix. But in its 
narrowest and most proper sense it is restricted to an ad- 
vancuig elevation or depression of the surface of a liody. 
An advancing elevation is called a ponlire wave, a de- 
pression a rygatire wave. Waves on the surfaces of li- 
quids are distinguished into four orders. A wave of the 
first order, also called a waiv of translation, leaves the 
particles, after its passage, shifted in the line of its motion. 
It is also calleii a mlitarif trace, becau.se a single impulse 
Sroduces but one elevation or depression, which has no 
eflnite length, but extends over the whole surface. The 
negative w.ive of this sort shortly breaks; it is only the 
positive wave, which leaves the particles in advance of 
their initial positiotis, which can l»e propagated far. This 
wave is also called Scott Hiignell'g yreat wave, because it 
was llr<t discovered by that engineer in 1834, and because, 
owijig to its form, it cannot lie seen unless it is vei-y high. 
The velocity of such a wave is equal to y^ih + k), where 
fr i» the acceleration of gravity. A the depth of the lii|uid 
n re|)ose, and k the height of the crest of the wave alHjve 
the plane of repose. This wave ilics down of itself in a 
canal of uniform depth, indei)etidently of friction, and 
when it pass^'s int^) shallow water it breaks as soon as A is 
no greaU-r than k. A eanal-boat produces such a wave, 
and cnn8e<iuently can l>e proiH-lled at the rate of speed of 
the wave far more economically than at any other. In 
waves of the second order, called oncillatorit waceg, ob- 
servation shows that each particle describes at a uniform 
rate of motion a circle in a vertical plane ; but according to 
thet>ry other orbits are piissible. The particle at the ci-est 
of the wave is at the hi^'hest part of its path, that in the 
trough at tbelowe-st. As long as the momentum of the par- 
ticles is kei)t up, wave must succeed wave. If the water 
has a flow opposite to the direction of [iropagation of the 
waves ami e<|ual to it in velocity, it is plain that each par- 
ticle will descrilH.' a prolate cycloid, and this is consequent- 
ly the form of the waves. Waves tlms brought to a stand- 
still by the flow of the water are called itandiny waves. 
(See flg. 1.) Tiiey are often seen in lapidly runtiing water. 
Fig. I. Staiiiliiig waves in a torrent. 
If the motion of the liquid is irrotational, theory shows 
that the waves catmot be cycloidal. But in regard to 
this whole subject neither theory nor observation can be 
trusted implicitly to give the truth of nature. The ve- 
locity i>1 propagation of oscillatory waves, at least in deep 
water, is representeii l»y the expression y(ff\j'2n), where A 
is the length of the wave from crest to crest. But the ve- 
locity of propagation of a group of waves is much slower. 
<>8cillat/)ry waves break on a shelving shore when their 
height is at»out equal to the ilepth of the water, ami from 
each one. as it breaks, a wave of the rtrst order is i»ro<luced. 
t8ee flg. 2.) Waves of the third order, called rii/pleg, are 
distinguished from those of the second order in the fact 
that the shorter they are the more rapidly tliey move. 
6851 
While an oscillatory wave 32 inches long will advance 3 
feet per second, and one of 3 inches long only 1 foot per 
second, a ripple a quarter of an inch long will move 1 
foot per second, a ripple an eighth of an inch long will 
l-^a- -'. Obcilliitory waves rolling in and breaking upon the sliore 
and giving rise to a series of waves of translation. 
move 1} feet per second, and so on. The reason is that 
the force of restoration of the particles is here not chiefly 
gravity, but the surface-tension of the liquid. Eipples 
very rapidly die out. Waves of the fourth order are mund- 
waveg. They are propagated in water at the rate of about 
1,680 yards per second — that is, at a much greater speed 
than that of sound in air. In the case of sound propa- 
gated in the air, the waves are formed by the alternate 
forward and back motion of the air-particles in the di- 
rection in wliichtlie sound is being piojjagated; the waves 
are consequently waves of condensation and rarefaction, 
having in the free air a spherical form. The amplitude 
of vibration or excursion of e,ich particle is very small 
but the wave-length is large— for the middle C of the 
keyboard, alwut 4J feet. A sound-wave travels in air 
about l.ltX) feet per second. (See further under tmmd^.) 
In the case of radiant energy (heat and light) pi-opagated 
through the ether, the ether-particles vibrate transversely 
to the line of propagation ; here the wave-length is very 
small— for violet light, alront 0.(XK),016 of an inch, for red 
al)out twice this length, wliile the dark heat-wares, tbi>ugh 
much longer, are still very minute (see spectrum). A light, 
wave (or, more generally, an ether-wave) travels in space 
about ]8fi,tKH) miles per second. Hertz has shown recently 
(1887) that by a very rapid oscillating electrical discharge, 
as between two knobs, a disturbance is produced iti the 
surrounding ether which is propagated as electric waves 
with a velocity like that of light. These electric waves 
in Hertz's experiments were found to have a wave-length 
of upward of one meter They are reflected from the sur- 
face of a conductor, but are transmitted by a non-conduc- 
tor, as pitch, and may Ije brought to a focus ; they may be 
made to interfere, tlien forming nodal points, and by pas- 
sage through a grating of parallel wires they may be po- 
larized. These electric waves are hence in all essential 
respects like light-waves, but differ in their relatively 
enormous length and the corresponding slowness of the 
oscillations. These exfierinients of Hertz form a most im- 
portant confirmation of tlie electromagnetic theory of light 
proposed by Maxwell (see light). 
That which in wares of fluid is rest is in waves of sound 
silence, and in ivaves of light darkness. 
Lontmel, Light (trans.), p. 220. 
The reason why one end of the coloured band [spec- 
trum) ... is red and the other blue is that iti light as 
in sotind we have a system of <listurbances or waves; we 
have long waves and short waves, and what the low notes 
are to lutisic the blue waves are to light. 
J. N. Lockyer, Spect. Anal., p. 34. 
4. One of a series of curves in a waving line, 
or of ridges in a furrowed surface ; an undula- 
tion ; a swell. 
A winning ware (deserving note) 
In the tempestuous petticote. 
Herrick, Delight in Disorder. 
The ears are funiished with feather to the same extent, 
with a slight icave, but no curl. 
Dogs o.f Great Britain and Avierica, p. 107. 
5. Figuratively, a flood, influx, or rush of any 
waved 
9. A book-name of certain geometrid moths. 
Thus, Acidalia rubricata is the tawny wave; A. contigu- 
aria is Greening's wave ; Venusia cambraria is tile Welsh 
wave, etc.— Barometric wave. See def. 6.— Cold wave, 
a progressive movement of an area of relatively low tem- 
perature. It is preceded by an area of low pressure, and 
is, in the United States, directly associated with the north- 
westerly winds which follow a cyclonic depression atid ac- 
company the advance of an area of high barometer. The 
cold wave is, in the United States, in most cases an out- 
pour of cold dry air from the barren plains of British 
America, where the air is cooled during the long nights 
of winter to a very low temperature. In Texas and the 
Gulf of Mexico the cold wave is termed a norther. The 
approach of cold waves is made a subject of forecast by 
the United States Weather Bureau. (See under m,</;i«(.) 
A decided fall of temperature of less extent, such as fre- 
quently occurs in other titan winter months, is termed a 
cool wave. [U. S.] 
When the fall of temperature in twenty-four hours is 
twenty degrees or more, and covers an area of at least 
fifty thousand square miles, and the temperature in any 
part of the area goes as low as 36°, it is called a cold-wave. 
Amer. Jour. Sci., 3d ser., XL. 46;i. 
Dicrotic wave. See dicrotic. — Hot wave, warm wave, 
a progressive movement, generally eastward, of an area 
of relatively liigh temperature, but without so definite a 
Ixmtidaiy and character as distinguish a cold wave. The 
general conditions of a warm wave, or heated term, in sum- 
mer are pressure decreasing to the northward, southerly 
winds, fair or hazy weather, with practically unbroken in- 
scilation, and, in some cases, such an amount of vapor in the 
air as to diminish the usual nocturnal radiation. [ U. S. | 
— Length of a wave, or wave-length, the distance be- 
tween any two particles which are in the same phase.- 
Period of a wave, the time between the passage of suc- 
cessive crests, or between succe.ssiveextreme displacements 
of a particle in the same manner.— PredicrotiC wave. See 
//redicroKc- Smoky wave. See «jno/<i/.— storm-wave, 
(a) A sea-wave raised at the center of a cyclonic storm by 
the low atmospheric pressure atid the force of the winds. 
It advances with the progressive motion of the storm, and 
has all the properties of a true wave. When augmented 
by a heavy fall of rain, and blown by strong winds upon a 
low shore, the storm-wave causes disastrous inumlatinns. 
The thickly populated lowlands at the head of the Bay of 
Bengal have l«;en the scene of frequent 8tt»rm-fioods, oc- 
casioning enormous losses of life and property. (6) In 
general, on sea-coasts, the increased wave-motion accom- 
panying storms.— Subangled wave, a British geometrid 
moth, Acidalia strigilaria. — Tidal wave. See tidal.— 
Type of a wave. See fi/jw.— Warm wave. See hot 
wave, above.— Wave Of contraction, in physiol., visible 
muscular contraction as propagated from a point where 
the muscle itself is stimulated.— Wave Of stimulation, 
in physiol., the motor inlluence of a nerve, supposed to be 
transmitted by molecular undulation. 
I shall always speak of muscle-ftbres as cotiveying a 
visible wave of contraction, and of nerve-flbres as convey- 
ing an invisible, or molecular, wave of stimulation. 
G. J. Romanes, Jelly Fish, etc., p. 25. 
Wave of translation. See def. .s. (See also Smm-Ma/r, 
imUe-wave.)=%yn. 1. Wave, Billow, Surge, Breaker, Svrf, 
Swell, Hippie. Wave is the general word. A billow is a 
great rouitd and rolling wave. Surge is only a somewhat 
stronger word for billow. A breaker is a wave breaking or 
about to break upon the shore or upon rocks. Snrf is the 
collective name for breakers: as, to bathe in the surf; it 
is sometimes popularly used for the foam at the edge or 
crest of the breaker. Swell is the name for the fact of the 
rising (and falling) of water, especially after the wind lias 
thing, marked bv unusual volume, extent, up- sul)sided, or for the water that so rises (and falls), or for 
-iiiiiin- of„ „„,1 t\„c ^.„.,t„„„t„,l ,..;n „„,7;.r„ ""y particular and occasional disturbance of water by 
rising, etc., and thus contrasted with preceding 
and following periods of the opposite character; 
something that swells like a sea- wave at recur- 
ring intervals; often, a period of intensity, 
activity, or important results: as, a wave of 
religious enthusiasm; waves of prosperity. 
A light win<l blew from the gates of the sun. 
And waves of shadow went over the wheat. 
Tennyson, The Poet's Song. 
An emotional ware once roused tends to continue for a 
certain length of time. A. Bain, Emotions and Will, p. 32. 
Specifically — 6. In meteor., a progressive os- 
cillation of atmospheric pressure or tempera- 
ture, or an advancing movement of large ex- 
tent in which these are considerably above or 
below the normal : as, an air-wave, barometric 
ware, cold wave, warm wave, etc. 
such rising (and falling): as, the boat was swamped by 
the swell from the steamer. Hippie is the name for the 
smallest kind of wave. 
The high watery walls came rolling in, and at their 
highest tumbled into surf. . . . Some white-headed ^if- 
lows thundered on. . . . The breakers rose, and, looking 
over one another, Itore one another down, and rolled in, 
in interminable hosts. . . . The sea . . . .airied men, 
spars, . . . into the boiling surge. 
Dickens, David Copperfleld, Iv. 
This mounting tvave will roll us shoreward soon. 
l^ennyson, Lotos-Eaters. 
.\cro88 the boundless east we drove. 
Where those long swells of breaker sweep 
The nutmeg rocks and isles of clove. 
Tennyson, The Voyage. 
As the shadows of sun-gilt ripples 
On the golden bed of a brook. 
Lowell, The Changeling. 
A foi-mer spelling of 
The term baro- 
metric wave is often restricted to those changes in at- waVC^t 
mospheric pressure which are not connected with cyclonic waive * 
disturbances nor with the regular diurnal variation, but .™,o— «•]. 
which include progressive oscillations of a varied charac- WaVe* t. 
ter and origin, ranging from those of a short wave-length, weave^ . 
which occupy but a fraction of a minute in their passage, waVe-action (wav'ak"shon),«. See 
to thfjse which cover thousands of miles and occupy sev- nriit))} 
eral days in their development and subsidence. There- •" j. / - /i, i. 
markahle air-waves generated by the eniptiou of Kraka- 'Wave-Dreast (Wav Drest), n. A 
An obsolete preterit of 
toa are shown by barographlc traces to have had an initial 
velocity of 700 miles an hour, and to have traveled round 
■the earth not less than seven times. 
7. A waved or wavy line of color or texture ; an 
undulation ; specifically, the undulating line or 
streak of luster on cloth watered and calen- 
dered. — 8. A waving; a gesture, or a .signal 
giveu by waving. 
With clear-rustling wave 
The scented pines of Switzcrliuid 
stand dark round thy green grave. 
M. Arnold, Stanzas in Memory of the Author of ()i>er- 
[inann. 
A magnitlcent (dd todily-mixcr . . . answered my <iues- 
tion by a wave of one hand. 
0. W. Holmes, OM Vol. of Life, i>. Ki. 
breast offered as a wave-offering 
(which see). 
waved ( wavd), a. [< M'CffY'l -f -(y/'^.] 
1. Having a waving outline or ap- 
pearance. See KY/t'tfl, ('. t. specifl- 
cally— (a) In zoti^., marked with waves; 
wavy in color or texture; undulated. (I/) 
In entom., eremite or crenulate, as a mar- 
gin ; sinuous; undulated, (c) In arms, 
sbajjcd in waves or undulations, as the 
edges of certain swords and daggers. 
Heavy swords of the middle ages were 
sometimes shaped in this way, apparently 
with the object of breaking plates of nrmoV i.i.uk-. 
the more rcadil.v. In the Malay ci-et-se, 
however, the oliject is probably to make a more ilangeroiis 
wound. 
M.ilay Creebf, 
