woo Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb seek someone's favor
    court.
    • China is wooing Russia
  2. verb make amorous advances towards
    romance; court; solicit.
    • John is courting Mary

WordNet

Woo transitive verb
Etymology
OE. wowen, woen, AS. wgian, fr. wh bent, crooked, bad; akin to OS. wah evil, Goth. unwahs blameless, Skr. vac to waver, and perhaps to E. vaccilate.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Wooed ; present participle & verbal noun Wooing
Definitions
  1. To solicit in love; to court.
    Each, like the Grecian artist, wooes The image he himself has wrought. Prior.
  2. To court solicitously; to invite with importunity.
    Thee, chantress, oft the woods among I woo, to hear thy even song. Milton.
    I woo the wind That still delays his coming. Bryant.
Woo intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To court; to make love. Dryden.

Webster 1913