await pronunciation: function: verb etymology: middle english, from anglo-french aweiter, aguaiter, from a- (from latin ad-) + guaiter to watch — more at waitdate: 13th centurytransitive verb 1 obsolete : to lie in wait for2 a : to wait for lt;awaiting his arrivalgt; b : to remain in abeyance until lt;a treaty awaiting ratificationgt;3 : to be in store for lt;wonders what awaits him nextgt;intransitive verb 1 obsolete : attend2 : to stay or be in waiting : wait3 : to be in store