Origin and history of wait

c. 1200, waiten, "to watch with hostile intent, lie in wait for, plot against," from Anglo-French and Old North French waitier "to watch" (Old French gaitier "defend, watch out, be on one's guard; lie in wait for;" Modern French guetter). This is from Frankish *wahton or another Germanic source, from Proto-Germanic *waht- (source also of Dutch wacht "a watching," Old High German wahten, German wachten "to watch, to guard;" Old High German wahhon "to watch, be awake," Old English wacian "to be awake"), from PIE root *weg- "to be strong, be lively."

The general sense of "remain in some place in patience or expectation" is from late 14c.; that of "to see to it that something occurs" is late 14c. Meaning "to stand by in attendance on" is late 14c.; specific sense of "serve as an attendant at a table" is from 1560s. Related: Waited; waiting.

To wait (something) out "endure a period of waiting" is recorded from 1849.

early 13c., waite, "a watcher, onlooker; spy, lookout" (senses now obsolete), from Old North French wait (Old French gait "look-out, watch, sentry"), from Old North French waitier (Old French gaitier; see wait (v.)). Compare Old High German wahta, German Wacht "a watchman." It is attested from late 14c. as "an ambush, a trap" (as in lie in wait).

In modern use, from 1855 as "time occupied in waiting," originally the time between acts in a theater; it is attested by 1873 as "an act of waiting." From the obsolete sense of "civic employee responsible for signaling the hour or an alarm by sounding on a trumpet, etc." comes the meaning "town musicians" (mid-15c.).