Woo, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Wooed; p. pr. & vb. n. Wooing.]
Etymology: [OE. wowen, wo, AS. w, fr. w bent, crooked, bad; akin to OS. wah evil, Goth. unwahs blameless, Skr. va to waver, and perhaps to E. vaccilate.]
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.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Woo, v. i.
To court; to make love. Dryden.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for woo; he lists it under address.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.