American Dictionary of the English Language

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HOV'ER, verb intransitive

1. To flap the wings, as a fowl; to hang over or about, fluttering or flapping the wings, with short irregular flights.

Great flights of birds are hovering about the bridge, and settling on it.

2. To hang over or around, with irregular motions.

A hovering mist came swimming o'er his sight.

3. To stand in suspense or expectation.

4. To wander about from place to place in the neighborhood; to move back and forth; as an army hovering on our borders; a ship hovering on our coast.

HOV'ER, noun A protection or shelter by hanging over.