English Explanatory Dictionary

woo

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To endeavor to gain someone's affection or support.
  2. Often of a man, to try to persuade (someone) to be in an amorous relationship with.
  3. To court solicitously; to invite with importunity; to solicit in love.
intj
  1. Alternative spelling of whoo, expressing joy or excitement.
adj
  1. Alternative form of woo woo.
noun
  1. Alternative form of woo woo.
name
  1. A surname from Chinese.
name
  1. A surname from Korean.

Pronunciation

wo͞o /wuː/ en-us-woo.ogg

Word forms

woo woos wooing wooed wo wow wowe more woo most woo Wu Ou U

Etymology

From Middle English wowen, woȝen, from Old English wōgian (“to woo, court, marry”), of uncertain origin. Cognate with Scots wow (“to woo”). Perhaps related to Old English wōg, wōh (“bending, crookedness”), in the specific sense of "bend or incline (some)one toward oneself". If so, then derived from Proto-Germanic *wanhō (“a bend, angle”), from Proto-Indo-European *wonk- (“crooked, bent”), from Proto-Indo-European *wā- (“to bend, twist, turn”); related to Old Norse vá (“corner, angle”).

Synonyms

address beau bedear chase after endear make a move (on) make love pitch woo put the moves on romance solicit spark woo court

Related words

courtship date wee woo

Derived words

pitch woo wooer woo girl woo-monger go woo
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