Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Waft
Waft
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Wafted
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Wafting
.] [Prob. originally imp. & p. p. of
wave
, v. t. See Wave
to waver.] 1.
To give notice to by waving something; to wave the hand to; to beckon.
[Obs.]
But soft: who
wafts
us yonder? Shakespeare
2.
To cause to move or go in a wavy manner, or by the impulse of waves, as of water or air; to bear along on a buoyant medium;
as, a balloon was
. wafted
over the channelA gentle
wafting
to immortal life. Milton.
Speed the soft intercourse from soul to soul,
And
And
waft
a sigh from Indus to the pole. Pope.
3.
To cause to float; to keep from sinking; to buoy.
[Obs.]
Sir T. Browne.
☞ This verb is regular; but waft was formerly som[GREEK]times used, as by Shakespeare, instead of wafted.
Waft
,Verb.
I.
To be moved, or to pass, on a buoyant medium; to float.
And now the shouts
waft
near the citadel. Dryden.
Waft
,Noun.
1.
A wave or current of wind.
“Everywaft of the air.” Longfellow.
In this dire season, oft the whirlwind’s wing
Sweeps up the burden of whole wintry plains
In one wide
Sweeps up the burden of whole wintry plains
In one wide
waft
. Thomson.
2.
A signal made by waving something, as a flag, in the air.
3.
An unpleasant flavor.
[Obs.]
4.
(Naut.)
A knot, or stop, in the middle of a flag.
[Written also
wheft
.] ☞ A flag with a waft in it, when hoisted at the staff, or half way to the gaff, means, a man overboard; at the peak, a desire to communicate; at the masthead, “Recall boats.”
Webster 1828 Edition
Waft
WAFT
, v.t.1.
To bear through a fluid or bouyant medium; to convey through water or air; as, a balloon was wafted over the channel.Speed the soft intercourse from soul to soul, and waft a sigh from Indus to the pole.
2.
To convey; as ships.3.
To bouy; to cause to float; to keep from sinking.4.
To beckon; to give notice by something in motion. [Not in use.][This verb is regular. But waft was formerly used by some writers for wafted.]
WAFT
,Verb.
I.
And now the shouts waft near the citadel.
WAFT
,Noun.