Wage — Defs

01 v. t. To pledge; to hazard on the event of a contest; to stake; to bet, to lay; to wager; as, to wage a dollar.

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.” — Shak.
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.” — Shak.
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.” — Dryden.

“The two are waging war, and the one triumphs by the destruction of the other.” — I. Taylor.
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.” — Latimer.
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.

02 v. i. To bind one's self; to engage.

03 n. That which is staked or ventured; that for which one incurs risk or danger; prize; gage.

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. 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.” — Drayton.

“Our praises are our wages.” — Shak.

“Existing legislation on the subject of wages.” — Encyc. Brit.

Phrases & compounds

Board wages — See under 1st Board.