verge

VERGE, n. verj. [L. virga, a rod, that is, a shoot.]

1. A rod, or something in the form of a rod or staff, carried as an emblem of authority; the mace of a dean.

2. The stick or wand with which persons are admitted tenants, by holding it in the hand, and swearing fealty to the lord. On this account, such tenants are called tenants by the verge.

3. In law, the compass or extent of the king's court, within which is bounded the jurisdiction of the lord steward of the king's household; so called from the verge or staff which the marshal bears.

4. The extreme side or end of any thing which has some extent of length; the brink; edge; border; margin. [This seems to be immediately connected with the L. vergo.]

5. Among gardeners, the edge or outside of a border; also, a slip of grass adjoining to gravel-walks, and dividing them from the borders in the parterre-garden.

6. A part of a time piece.

VERGE, v.i. [L. vergo.]

1. To tend downwards; to bend; to slope; as, a hill verges to the north.

2. To tend; to incline; to approach.

I find myself verging to that period of life which is to be labor and sorrow.