await
English
Etymology
From Middle English awaiten, from Old Northern French awaitier (“to lie in wait for, watch, observe”), originally especially with a hostile sense; itself from a- (“to”) + waitier (“to watch”).[1]
Pronunciation
Verb
await (third-person singular simple present awaits, present participle awaiting, simple past and past participle awaited)
- (transitive, formal) To wait for.
- I await your reply to my letter.
- (transitive) To expect.
- (transitive) To be in store for; to be ready or in waiting for
- Glorious rewards await the good in heaven, eternal suffering awaits mortal sinners in hell.
- 1900, Charles W. Chesnutt, The House Behind the Cedars, Chapter I,
- Standing foursquare in the heart of the town, at the intersection of the two main streets, a "jog" at each street corner left around the market-house a little public square, which at this hour was well occupied by carts and wagons from the country and empty drays awaiting hire.
- (transitive) To wait on, serve or attend (to).
- (intransitive) To watch, observe.
- (intransitive) To wait (on or upon).
- (intransitive) To wait; to stay in waiting.
Synonyms
- (wait for): wait for, anticipate, listen (of a sound)
Usage notes
- As await means to wait for, it is not followed by "for". *I am awaiting for your reply is therefore incorrect.
Translations
transitive: to wait for
|
|
transitive: to expect
transitive: to be in store for
transitive: to wait on, to serve
intransitive: to watch
|
intransitive, to stay in waiting
- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Translations to be checked
Noun
await (plural awaits)
- (obsolete) A waiting for; ambush.
- (obsolete) Watching, watchfulness, suspicious observation.
- 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book VII:
- Also, madame, syte you well that there be many men spekith of oure love in this courte, and have you and me gretely in awayte, as thes Sir Aggravayne and Sir Mordred.
- 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book VII: