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Aweigh: meaning, definitions and examples

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aweigh

 

[ əˈweɪ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

nautical anchor

To aweigh means to raise an anchor off the seabed so that a vessel is ready to set sail. This term is primarily used in nautical contexts, where it is crucial to denote the action of lifting an anchor to signal that the ship can now navigate away from its anchored position. The term suggests the idea of lightening the vessel, as the anchor's weight is no longer holding the ship in place. It is often used in commands for sailors as they prepare to depart.

Synonyms

hoist, lift, raise

Examples of usage

  • The captain ordered the anchor aweigh.
  • Once the anchor is aweigh, we can head out to sea.
  • After a long wait, the ship's anchor was finally aweigh.

Translations

Translations of the word "aweigh" in other languages:

🇵🇹 levantar

🇮🇳 उठाना

🇩🇪 hebe

🇮🇩 mengangkat

🇺🇦 піднімати

🇵🇱 podnosić

🇯🇵 持ち上げる

🇫🇷 lever

🇪🇸 levantar

🇹🇷 kaldırmak

🇰🇷 올리다

🇸🇦 رفع

🇨🇿 zvednout

🇸🇰 zdvihnúť

🇨🇳 抬起

🇸🇮 dvigniti

🇮🇸 lyfta

🇰🇿 көтеру

🇬🇪 წაყვანა

🇦🇿 qaldırmaq

🇲🇽 levantar

Word origin

The word 'aweigh' originates from the Middle English term 'awaie', which combines the prefix 'a-' (meaning 'on' or 'in the state of') and the word 'weigh'. This usage reflects the action of weighing an anchor, which is a significant part of maritime activity. In nautical terminology, it indicates a specific condition when an anchor is no longer resting at the bottom of a body of water but is instead being lifted or has been lifted. Since its introduction into the English lexicon, 'aweigh' has retained its specialized meaning primarily within the contexts of sailing and seamanship. Its use has become more limited, being mostly found in traditional nautical language, which carries a strong connection to the maritime heritage.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #42,386, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.