weigh

present singular third person weighs · participle present weighing · participle past weighed · past weighed · alternative obsolete waye · alternative obsolete weye

1. transitiveTo determine the weight of an object.
2. transitiveOften with "out", to measure a certain amount of something by its weight, e.g. for sale.

   He weighed out two kilos of oranges for a client.

3. figurativelytransitiveTo determine the intrinsic value or merit of an object, to evaluate.

   He took a long time weighing his options.

   2 more examples

   You have been weighed in the balance and found wanting.

   As they started picking features, customers would carefully weigh the choices, but as decision fatigue set in they'd start settling for whatever the default option was.

   2011, Roy F. Baumeister, John Tierney, Willpower, →ISBN, page 103

   Synonyms: assess, price, value, appraise, apprise, apprize, assess, esteem

4. figurativelyintransitiveobsoleteTo judge; to estimate.

   But ſhe thereof grew proud and inſolent, / That none ſhe worthie thought to be her fere, / But ſcornd them all, that loue vnto her ment; / Yet was ſhe lou’d of many a worthy pere, / Vnworthy ſhe to be belou’d ſo dere, / That could not weigh of worthineſſe aright.

   1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book VI, Canto VII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], part II (books IV–VI), London: […] [Richard Field] for William Ponsonby, →OCLC, page 444

5. transitiveTo consider a subject.
6. copulativeintransitivestativeTo have a certain weight.

   I weigh ten and a half stone.

   1 more example

   Each half-section of the battery weighs about eight tons, and the two underframes had to be strengthened to take this weight.

   1958 June 28, “First Battery Railcars on B.R.”, in Railway Magazine, page 419

7. intransitiveTo have weight; to be heavy; to press down.

   They only weigh the heavier.

   1782, William Cowper, “The Yearly Distress or, Tithing-Time in Essex”, in Poems, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], →OCLC

   1 more example

   If they ſhall faile, I with mine Enemies Will triumph o're my perſon, which I waigh not, Being of thoſe Vertues vacant.

   1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i], page 228, column 1

8. intransitiveTo be considered as important; to have weight in the intellectual balance.

   Your vowes to her, and me,[…] / Will euen weigh, and both as light as tales.

   c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “A Midsommer Nights Dreame”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], page 154, column 1

   1 more example

   I anſwer, this is a good Objection, and ought to weigh with thoſe whoſe Reading is deſign’d for much Talk and little Knowledge, and I have nothing to ſay to it.

   a. 1705, John Locke, “Of the Conduct of the Understanding”, in Posthumous Works of Mr. John Locke: […], London: […] A[wnsham] and J[ohn] Churchill, […], published 1706, →OCLC, § 19, page 62

9. transitivenauticalTo raise an anchor free of the seabed.
10. intransitivenauticalTo weigh anchor.

    Here we used to remain until nearly time for slack-water again, when we weighed and made for home.

    1841, Edgar Allan Poe, A Descent into the Maelström

    1 more example

    Towards the euening we wayed, & approaching the ſhoare [...], we landed where there lay a many of baskets and much bloud, but ſaw not a Salvage.

    1624, Walter Russell, Anas Todkill, Thomas Momford, “The Accidents that hapned in the Discovery of the Bay of Chisapeack”, in Iohn [i.e., John] Smith, The Generall Historie of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer Isles: […], London: […] I[ohn] D[awson] and I[ohn] H[aviland] for Michael Sparkes, →OCLC, 3rd booke, page 56

11. To bear up; to raise; to lift into the air; to swing up.

    Weigh the vessel up.

    1782, William Cowper, On the Loss of the Royal George

12. obsoleteTo consider as worthy of notice; to regard.

    Them all, and all that ſhe ſo deare did way,[…]

    1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book VII, Canto VI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 55, page 358

    2 more examples

    Thinke you I weigh this treaſure more than you? Not all the Gold in Indias welthy armes, Shall buy the meaneſt ſouldier in my traine.

    c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act I, scene ii

    Kat. So do not you, for you are a light Wench. / Roſ. Indeed I waigh not you, and therefore light. / Ka. You waigh me not, O that’s you care not for me.

    c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Loues Labour’s Lost”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii], page 137, column 1

plural weighs · alternative obsolete waye · alternative obsolete weye

1. The act of weighing, of measuring the weight

   Give the sugar a quick weigh.

1. A surname.