Etimology
As a noun, from Middle English wacche, from Old English wæċċe. See below for verb form.
noun
watch (plural watches)
A portable or wearable timepiece.
The act of guarding and observing someone or something.
A particular time period when guarding is kept.
A period of wakefulness between the two sleeps of a biphasic sleep pattern (the dead sleep or first sleep and morning sleep or second sleep): the first waking.
A person or group of people who guard.
The post or office of a watchman; also, the place where a watchman is posted, or where a guard is kept.
(nautical) A group of sailors and officers aboard a ship or shore station with a common period of duty: starboard watch, port watch.
(nautical) A period of time on duty, usually four hours in length; the officers and crew who tend the working of a vessel during the same watch. (FM 55–501).
The act of seeing, or viewing, for a period of time.
Examples
More people today carry a watch on their wrists than in their pockets.
Sunning himself on the board steps, I saw for the first time Mr. Farquhar Fenelon Cooke. […] A silver snaffle on a heavy leather watch guard which connected the pockets of his corduroy waistcoat, together with a huge gold stirrup in his Ascot tie, sufficiently proclaimed his tastes.
shepherds keeping watch by night
All the long night their mournful watch they keep.
The second watch of the night began at midnight.
I did stand my watch upon the hill.
Might we but hear […] Or whistle from the lodge, or village cock Count the night watches to his feathery dames.
In the evening a tremendous thunder storm, accompanied by wind and rain. It is my watch and I find it a terrible time to act as sentry.
The watch stopped the travelers at the city gates.
Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch; go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
He upbraids Iago, that he made him Brave me upon the watch.
A quick watch of Stanley Kubrick's Clockwork Orange sends this reality home fast. Amoral, vacuous, cold-blooded, unsympathetic, and chillingly evil describe only parts of the story.
The first third of the film is laugh after laugh; […] But half an hour in and this movie gets unnervingly dark and is an uncomfortable watch at times.
Etimology
From Middle English wacchen, from Old English wæċċan, from Proto-West Germanic *wakkjan, from Proto-Germanic *wakjaną.
verb
watch (third-person singular simple present watches, present participle watching, simple past and past participle watched)
(transitive, intransitive) To look at, see, or view for a period of time.
(transitive) To observe over a period of time; to notice or pay attention.
(transitive) To mind, attend, or guard.
(transitive) To be wary or cautious of.
(transitive) To attend to dangers to or regarding.
(intransitive) To remain awake with a sick or dying person; to maintain a vigil.
(intransitive) To be vigilant or on one's guard.
(intransitive) To act as a lookout.
(nautical, of a buoy) To serve the purpose of a watchman by floating properly in its place.
(obsolete, intransitive) To be awake.
(transitive, obsolete) To be on the lookout for; to wait for expectantly.
Examples
Watching the clock will not make time go faster.
I'm tired of watching TV.
It was a joy to snatch some brief respite, and find himself in the rectory drawing–room. Listening here was as pleasant as talking; just to watch was pleasant. The young priests who lived here wore cassocks and birettas; their faces were fine and mild, yet really strong, like the rector's face; and in their intercourse with him and his wife they seemed to be brothers.
Watch this!
Put a little baking soda in some vinegar and watch what happens.
Please watch my suitcase for a minute.
He has to watch the kids that afternoon.
[…] — “ […] Them rich fellers, they don't make no bad breaks with their money. They watch it all th' time b'cause they know blame well there ain't hardly room fer their feet fer th' pikers an' tin-horns an' thimble-riggers what are layin' fer 'em. […] ”
You should watch that guy. He has a reputation for lying.
watch your head; watch your step
Watch yourself when you talk to him.
Watch what you say.
At the funeralls in Yorkeshire, to this day, they continue the custome of watching & sitting-up all night till the body is interred.
For some must watch, while some must sleep: So runs the world away.
So on the morne Sir Trystram, Sir Gareth and Sir Dynadan arose early and went unto Sir Palomydes chambir, and there they founde hym faste aslepe, for he had all nyght wacched […]
[S]he had reason to dread that her husband had formed a very criminal project of being revenged on Zeluco, and watched an opportunity of putting it in execution.
Related words
antonyms
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