Definition of wait in

The phrase "wait in" is a phrase used to indicate that someone should stay in a particular place and not leave until further notice. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the expression "wait in" originated in the 19th century from the verb "wait" and the preposition "in." The verb "wait" itself derived from the Old English "weidan," which meant "watch, wait, keep watch." By the late 14th century, "wait" began to have a distinct meaning of "remain" or "continue" in place. The preposition "in" originally meant "enclosed by," "within," or "contained by." However, by the 16th century, it began to be used to indicate location, such as "in the house" or "in the city." The combination of the two words, "wait in," first appeared in the mid-19th century in the context of waiting for someone or something. It has since become a widely used phrase to ask someone to remain indoors until a specific event or person arrives. In summary, the origin of the phrase "wait in" can be traced back to the 19th century as a combination of the verb "wait" and the preposition "in," both of which, in their own respective ways, contributed to their origins in the English language.