Emily Dickinson Lexicon

WADE, v.i. [Sw. vada; D. waaden; G. waten; Dan. vader; Fr. gueer, for gueder; It. guadare; Sp. vadear, L. vado, to go. Qu. Heb. אבד avad, to go.]

1. To walk through any substance that yields to the feet; as, to wade through water; to wade through sand or snow. To wade over a river, is to walk through on the bottom. Fowls that wade have long legs.
2. To move or pass with difficulty or labor; as, judges wade through an intricate law case. It is not my purpose to wade through these controversies. The king's admirable conduct has waded through all these difficulties. – Davenant. And wades through fumes, and gropes his way. – Dryden.