weed

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English wēod weed, herb; akin to Old Saxon wiod weed Date: before 12th century 1. a. (1) a plant that is not valued where it is growing and is usually of vigorous growth; especially one that tends to overgrow or choke out more desirable plants (2) a weedy growth of plants b. an aquatic plant; especially seaweed c. (1) tobacco products (2) marijuana 2. a. an obnoxious growth, thing, or person b. something like a weed in detrimental quality; especially an animal unfit to breed from II. verb Date: before 12th century intransitive verb to remove weeds or something harmful transitive verb 1. a. to clear of weeds <

weed a garden

> b. (1) to free from something hurtful or offensive (2) to remove the less desirable portions of 2. to get rid of (something harmful or superfluous) — often used with out <

weed out the troublemakers

> III. noun Etymology: Middle English wede, from Old English wǣd, gewǣde; akin to Old Norse vāth cloth, clothing and perhaps to Lithuanian austi to weave Date: before 12th century 1. garment — often used in plural 2. a. dress worn as a sign of mourning (as by a widow) — usually used in plural b. a band of crape worn on a man's hat as a sign of mourning — usually used in plural