From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Wade \Wade\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Waded; p. pr. & vb. n.
Wading.] [OE. waden to wade, to go, AS. wadan; akin to
OFries. wada, D. waden, OHG. watan, Icel. va?a, Sw. vada,
Dan. vade, L. vadere to go, walk, vadum a ford. Cf. Evade,
Invade, Pervade, Waddle.]
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1. To go; to move forward. [Obs.]
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When might is joined unto cruelty,
Alas, too deep will the venom wade. --Chaucer.
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Forbear, and wade no further in this speech. --Old
Play.
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2. To walk in a substance that yields to the feet; to move,
sinking at each step, as in water, mud, sand, etc.
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So eagerly the fiend . . .
With head, hands, wings, or feet, pursues his way,
And swims, or sinks, or wades, or creeps, or flies.
--Milton.
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3. Hence, to move with difficulty or labor; to proceed ?lowly
among objects or circumstances that constantly ?inder or
embarrass; as, to wade through a dull book.
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And wades through fumes, and gropes his way.
--Dryden.
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The king's admirable conduct has waded through all
these difficulties. --Davenant.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Wading \Wad"ing\,
a. & n. from Wade, v.
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Wading bird. (Zool.) See Wader, 2.
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