wait upon (someone or something)

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wait upon (someone or something)

1. To serve or attend to a customer or patron. Every member of staff will be needed to wait upon the royal family during their visit. I used to work as a butler, and I waited upon several wealthy families around the country.

2. To await some particular person or thing before one is able to proceed. We are still waiting upon a response from the consulate before we can take any action. We've had to wait upon our attorney to lodge the appeal with the judge.

See also: upon, wait

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References in periodicals archive ?

This waiter-in-training program wrapped up at the Last Supper, when he taught them to wash each other's feet; and after the Resurrection (Acts 6), we learn that the apostles had two jobs--to preach the gospel and to wait upon the widows.

You've gotta serve somebody: Jesus put service in the spotlight 2,000 years ago, and Hollywood's stars still practice the virtue, toiling away in kitchens on the big screen

They would have to wait upon the even murkier aid decisions of individual institutions before they can seriously plan for the student's college education.

E Pluribus, ummm ..

One will have to wait upon events before history renders a judgment.

In the Time of the Americans: FDR, Truman, Eisenhower, Marshall, MacArthur - The Generation That Changed America's Role in the World

I am led by the celebrated present to the now of love and friendship and do not wait upon these after some prerequisites are met.

Act and word; reflections on the humanist future

Captain Carpenter mounted up one day And rode straightway into a stranger rogue That looked unchristian but be that as may The Captain did not wait upon prologue.

Captain Carpenter

The personal nature of medical practice in early America was demonstrated by a doctor who, in setting up his practice, advertised that he would be glad to wait upon the public but that his first concern was for "his friends in particular."

1803: Sports; social issues and crime; folkways; fashion; holidays

For me it raised a question that has dogged me for years: What does it really mean to wait upon God?

When there's a cow in your attic: wait and pray

We can give until we have nothing left, because we know that lonely place where we can wait upon the Lord who renews strength.

Fifth Sunday after the epiphany February 5, 2012

So we could be in for almost another six months of this epically tedious version of Macbeth, in which Duncan, sorry Gordon, remains on his throne because all concerned persist in "Letting 'I dare not' wait upon 'I would' like the poor cat i' the adage."

Brown on the ice but staying upright

If you follow his advice, to "wait upon the Lord' be strong, and let your heart take courage," then you will find God does care and then you can go out and share that good news with others.

THOUGHT for the DAY

It's a disgrace that the restoration of the link between pensions and earnings should wait upon the restoration of the link between Gordon and Tony.

Put pensions on a level pegging now

"First of all one has to wait upon events and it will be an unfortunate day when the Queen dies," stressed the MP.

MP adds to Camilla puzzle

But, as in so many other things, we have to wait upon London to implement a policy that could help us beat a killer which claims so many lives here.

The time has come to follow Scots and ban public smoking

Servants stand to wait upon superiors, especially the guest of honor.

Should we stand or kneel for the Eucharistic Prayer?

A deputation was appointed to wait upon the Wolverhampton Corporation on the subject.