{ } n. [ OE. wer, AS. wer; akin to G. wehr, AS. werian to defend, protect, hinder, G. wehren, Goth. warjan; and perhaps to E. wary; or cf. Skr. v&rsdot_; to check, hinder. √142. Cf. Garret. ] 1. A dam in a river to stop and raise the water, for the purpose of conducting it to a mill, forming a fish pond, or the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A fence of stakes, brushwood, or the like, set in a stream, tideway, or inlet of the sea, for taking fish. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A long notch with a horizontal edge, as in the top of a vertical plate or plank, through which water flows, -- used in measuring the quantity of flowing water. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Cf. Veer. ] (Naut.) To cause to go about, as a vessel, by putting the helm up, instead of alee as in tacking, so that the vessel's bow is turned away from, and her stern is presented to, the wind, and, as she turns still farther, her sails fill on the other side; to veer. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. Wore p. p. Worn p. pr. & vb. n. Wearing. Before the 15th century wear was a weak verb, the imp. & p. p. being Weared. ] [ OE. weren, werien, AS. werian to carry, to wear, as arms or clothes; akin to OHG. werien, weren, to clothe, Goth. wasjan, L. vestis clothing, vestire to clothe, Gr. "enny`nai, Skr. vas. Cf. Vest.] [1913 Webster]

1. To carry or bear upon the person; to bear upon one's self, as an article of clothing, decoration, warfare, bondage, etc.; to have appendant to one's body; to have on; as, to wear a coat; to wear a shackle. [1913 Webster]

What compass will you wear your farthingale? Shak. [1913 Webster]

On her white breast a sparkling cross she wore,
Which Jews might kiss, and infidels adore. Pope. [1913 Webster]

2. To have or exhibit an appearance of, as an aspect or manner; to bear; as, she wears a smile on her countenance. “He wears the rose of youth upon him.” Shak. [1913 Webster]

His innocent gestures wear
A meaning half divine. Keble. [1913 Webster]

3. To use up by carrying or having upon one's self; hence, to consume by use; to waste; to use up; as, to wear clothes rapidly. [1913 Webster]

4. To impair, waste, or diminish, by continual attrition, scraping, percussion, on the like; to consume gradually; to cause to lower or disappear; to spend. [1913 Webster]

That wicked wight his days doth wear. Spenser. [1913 Webster]

The waters wear the stones. Job xiv. 19. [1913 Webster]

5. To cause or make by friction or wasting; as, to wear a channel; to wear a hole. [1913 Webster]

6. To form or shape by, or as by, attrition. [1913 Webster]

Trials wear us into a liking of what, possibly, in the first essay, displeased us. Locke. [1913 Webster]

To wear away, to consume; to impair, diminish, or destroy, by gradual attrition or decay. --
To wear off, to diminish or remove by attrition or slow decay; as, to wear off the nap of cloth. --
To wear on or
To wear upon, to wear. [Obs.] “[I] weared upon my gay scarlet gites [gowns.]” Chaucer. --
To wear out. (a) To consume, or render useless, by attrition or decay; as, to wear out a coat or a book. (b) To consume tediously. “To wear out miserable days.” Milton. (c) To harass; to tire. “[He] shall wear out the saints of the Most High.” Dan vii. 25. (d) To waste the strength of; as, an old man worn out in military service. --
To wear the breeches. See under Breeches. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster]

v. i. 1. To endure or suffer use; to last under employment; to bear the consequences of use, as waste, consumption, or attrition; as, a coat wears well or ill; -- hence, sometimes applied to character, qualifications, etc.; as, a man wears well as an acquaintance. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To be wasted, consumed, or diminished, by being used; to suffer injury, loss, or extinction by use or time; to decay, or be spent, gradually. “Thus wore out night.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Away, I say; time wears. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou and this people that is with thee. Ex. xviii. 18. [ 1913 Webster ]

His stock of money began to wear very low. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

The family . . . wore out in the earlier part of the century. Beaconsfield. [ 1913 Webster ]

To wear off, to pass away by degrees; as, the follies of youth wear off with age. --
To wear on, to pass on; as, time wears on. G. Eliot. --
To wear weary, to become weary, as by wear, long occupation, tedious employment, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as Weir. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of wearing, or the state of being worn; consumption by use; diminution by friction; as, the wear of a garment. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The thing worn; style of dress; the fashion. [ 1913 Webster ]

Motley 's the only wear. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The result of wearing or use; consumption, diminution, or impairment due to use, friction, or the like; as, the wear of this coat has been good. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

Wear and tear, the loss by wearing, as of machinery in use; the loss or injury to which anything is subjected by use, accident, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being worn; suitable to be worn. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who wears or carries as appendant to the body; as, the wearer of a cloak, a sword, a crown, a shackle, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cowls, hoods, and habits, with their wearers, tossed,
And fluttered into rags. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which wastes or diminishes. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. That may be wearied. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Abounding in qualities which cause weariness; wearisome. -- Wea"ri*ful*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]