Wage /(?)/

Wage

v. t.

imp. & p. p. Waged; p. pr. & vb. n. Waging

  1. To pledge; to hazard on the event of a contest; to stake; to bet, to lay; to wager; as, to wage a dollar.
    My life I never but as a pawn To wage against thy enemies.
  2. To expose one's self to, as a risk; to incur, as a danger; to venture; to hazard.
    To wake and wage a danger profitless.
  3. To engage in, as a contest, as if by previous gage or pledge; to carry on, as a war.
    [He pondered] which of all his sons was fit To reign and wage immortal war with wit.
    The two are waging war, and the one triumphs by the destruction of the other.
  4. To adventure, or lay out, for hire or reward; to hire out. [Obs.]
  5. To put upon wages; to hire; to employ; to pay wages to. [Obs.]
    Abundance of treasure which he had in store, wherewith he might wage soldiers.
    — Holinshed.
    I would have them waged for their labor.
  6. To give security for the performance of. (O. Eng. Law)

Phrases & Compounds
To wage battle
to give gage, or security, for joining in the duellum, or combat. See Wager of battel, under Wager, n.
To wage one's law
to give security to make one's law. See Wager of law, under Wager, n.

Wage

v. i.
  1. To bind one's self; to engage. [Obs.]

Wage

n.
  1. That which is staked or ventured; that for which one incurs risk or danger; prize; gage. [Obs.]
  2. That for which one labors; meed; reward; stipulated payment for service performed; hire; pay; compensation; -- at present generally used in the plural. See Wages.
    By Tom Thumb, a fairy page, He sent it, and doth him engage, By promise of a mighty wage, It secretly to carry.
    Our praises are our wages.
    Existing legislation on the subject of wages.

Phrases & Compounds
Board wages
See under 1st Board.