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Antonyms for wagged

Grammar : Verb
Spell : wag
Phonetic Transcription : wæg


Definition of wagged

Origin :
  • early 13c., "waver, vacillate, lack steadfastness," probably from a Scandinavian source (cf. Old Norse vagga "a cradle," Danish vugge "rock a cradle," Old Swedish wagga "fluctuate"), and in part from Old English wagian "move backwards and forwards;" all from Proto-Germanic *wagojanan (cf. Old High German weggen, Gothic wagjan "to wag"), probably from PIE root *wegh- "to move about" (see weigh). Meaning "to move back and forth or up and down" is from c.1300. Wagtail is attested from c.1500 as a kind of small bird (late 12c. as a surname); 18c. as "a harlot," but seems to be implied much earlier:
  • If therefore thou make not thy mistress a goldfinch, thou mayst chance to find her a wagtaile. [Lyly, "Midas," 1592]
  • Wag-at-the-wall (1825) was an old name for a hanging clock with pendulum and weights exposed.
  • verb wiggle back and forth
Example sentences :
  • Old Bob wagged his head in slow negation; young William lifted his.
  • Extract from : « The Black Bag » by Louis Joseph Vance
  • Then she wagged the stump of her tail, and they considered themselves acquainted.
  • Extract from : « Johnny Bear » by E. T. Seton
  • And I'd have broke the head of the first man that'd wagged a tongue.
  • Extract from : « The Manxman » by Hall Caine
  • "To ward off possible traitors," she told him, and Marius smiled and wagged his head.
  • Extract from : « St. Martin's Summer » by Rafael Sabatini
  • Beth wagged her head like a solemn child and then laid her other hand on his.
  • Extract from : « The Vagrant Duke » by George Gibbs
  • He wagged his head and the long black sword made a half-circle.
  • Extract from : « Tales of Fishes » by Zane Grey
  • And old Angus wagged his head and said, "Canny lass, the widdy!"
  • Extract from : « They of the High Trails » by Hamlin Garland
  • Jerry Dodd looked reproachfully at Daphne and wagged his head.
  • Extract from : « Phyllis » by Dorothy Whitehill
  • "The south is a big section of the country," and Ruth wagged her head.
  • Extract from : « Ruth Fielding and the Gypsies » by Alice B. Emerson
  • Here the dog placidly stood and wagged its tail, looking up at us.
  • Extract from : « In Kings' Byways » by Stanley J. Weyman

Synonyms for wagged

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019