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Webster 1913 Edition
Hover
Hov′er
,Noun.
[Etymol. doubtful.]
A cover; a shelter; a protection.
[Archaic]
Carew.
C. Kingsley.
Hov′er
,Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Hovered
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Hovering
.] [OE.
hoveren
, and hoven
, prob. orig., to abide, linger, and fr. AS. hof
house; cf. OFries. hovia
to receive into one’s house. See Hovel
.] 1.
To hang fluttering in the air, or on the wing; to remain in flight or floating about or over a place or object; to be suspended in the air above something.
Great flights of birds are
hovering
about the bridge, and settling on it. Addison.
A
hovering
mist came swimming o'er his sight. Dryden.
2.
To hang about; to move to and fro near a place, threateningly, watchfully, or irresolutely.
Agricola having sent his navy to
hover
on the coast. Milton.
Hovering
o'er the paper with her quill. Shakespeare
Webster 1828 Edition
Hover
HOV'ER
, v.i.1.
To flap the wings, as a fowl; to hang over or about, fluttering or flapping the wings, with short irregular flights. Great flights of birds are hovering about the bridge, and settling on it.
2.
To hang over or around, with irregular motions. A hovering mist came swimming o'er his sight.
3.
To stand in suspense or expectation.4.
To wander about from place to place in the neighborhood; to move back and forth; as an army hovering on our borders; a ship hovering on our coast.HOV'ER
,Noun.