Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
A. p. 1The first letter of the alphabet in most of the known languages of the earth. It is naturally the first letter, because it represents the first vocal sound naturally formed by the organs of speech…Aam, n. p. 1A measure of liquids among the Dutch, varying in different cities, being at Amsterdam about 41 wine gallons, at Antwerp 36½.Aard'-värk, n. p. 1(Zoöl.) An edentate plantegrade mammal, of the genus Orycteropus, allied to the armadillo, and somewhat resembling in appearance a small, short-legged pig, common in some parts of Southern Africa. It…Aa-rôn'ic or Aa-rôn'ic-al, a. p. 1Pertaining to Aaron, the Jewish high priest, or to the priesthood of which he was the head. Doddridge.Aa′ron’s-rōd, n. p. 1(Arch.) A rod with one serpent twined around it, thus differing from that of Mercury, which has two. Weale.Ăb p. 1a prefix to words of Latin origin, and a Latin preposition, as in abduct, is the same as the Greek ἀπό, Skr. apa, Lith. ap, api, O. H. Ger. apa, aba, M. H. Ger. abe, Ger. ab, Goth., O. Sax., Icel.…Ăb, n. p. 1The eleventh month of the Jewish civil year, and the fifth of the ecclesiastical year, answering to a part of July and a part of August. Kitto.Ăb'a-cā, n. p. 1Manilla hemp.Āb'a-cis'cus, n. p. 1(Arch.) One of the checkers or squares of a tessellated pavement. Hodgson. 2. An abacus. [Rare.] Gwill.Ab'a-cist, n. p. 1One who uses an abacus in casting accounts; a calculator. Todd.A-băck′, adv. p. 1Toward the back or rear; backward; back. “Therewith aback she started.” Chaucer. 2. (Naut.) Backward against the mast; — said of the sails when pressed by the wind. Totten. Hence, taken aback, or all…Ăb'ack, n. p. 1An abacus. [Obs.] B. Jonson.Ab'a-cot, n. p. 1The cap of state formerly used by English kings, wrought into the figure of two crowns. Brande.A-băc'tor, n. p. 1(Law.) One who steals and drives away cattle or beasts by herds or in great numbers at once, in distinction from one who steals a single beast only. Jacobs.A-băc'ū-lŭs, n. p. 1A small tile of glass, marble, or other substance, of various colors, used in making ornamental patterns in mosaic pavements. Fairholt.Āb'a-cŭs, n. p. 1A drawing-board; a tray strewn with dust or sand, anciently used for drawing, calculating, &c. 2. A calculating-table; an instrument for performing arithmetical calculations by balls sliding on…A-băd'don, n. p. 1<br>1. The destroyer, or angel of the bottomless pit; —the same as Apollyon and Asmodeus. Rev. ix. 11.<br>2. The bottomless pit; the abyss of hell. [Rare.]<br>In all her gates, Abaddon rues<br>Thy…A-băft', prep. p. 1(Naut.) Toward the stern from; back of; farther back than. Abæft the beam. See BEAM.A-băft', adv. p. 1(Naut.) Toward the stern; back.A-bāi'sance, n. p. 1Same as OBEISANCE. Johnson.A-bāi'ger, n. p. 1Ivory black or animal charcoal. Weale.Ab-ăl'ien-āte, v. t. p. 1(Law.) To transfer the title of from one to another;—a term of the civil law, rarely or never used in common law proceedings. 2. To estrange or wholly withdraw from. [Obs.]Ab-āl'ien-ā'tion, n. p. 1(Cir. Law.) The act of transferring or making over the title of property from one to another; act of abalienating; transfer; estrangement. See ALIENATION.A-bănd', v. t. p. 1To abandon. [Obs.] Enforced the kingdom to aband. Spenser. 2. To banish. [Obs.] 'Tis better far the enemies to aband / Quite from thy borders. Mir. for Mag.A-băn'don, v. t. p. 2To outlaw; to banish; to exile; to drive out or away. [Obs.] That he might . . . abandon them from him. Udal. Being all this time abandoned from your bed. Shak. 2. To give up absolutely; to forsake…A-băn'don, n. p. 2The act of abandoning or deserting; relinquishment. [Obs.] 2. One who abandons, or who is abandoned; one forsaken. [Obs.]A-ban-don', n. p. 2A complete giving up; hence, an utter disregard of self, arising from absorption in some favorite object or emotion, and sometimes a disregard of appearances, producing either careless negligence or…A-băn'doned, p. a. p. 2Given up, as to a vice; hence, extremely wicked, or sinning without restraint; irreclaimably wicked; as, an abandoned youth; an abandoned villain. Syn.—Forsaken; deserted; destitute; abject; forlorn…A-băn'don-ee', n. p. 2(Law.) One to whom any thing is abandoned.A-băn'don-er, n. p. 2One who abandons.A-băn'don-ment, n. p. 2The act of abandoning, or the state of being abandoned; total desertion; absolute relinquishment. The abandonment of the independence of Europe. Burke. 2. (Mar. Law.) The relinquishment by the…A-băn'dum, n. p. 2(Law.) Any thing forfeited or confiscated. Jacobs.Ăb'a-net, n. p. 2See ABNET.A-bāṅ'gā, n. p. 2The fruit of a kind of palm-tree whose seeds have been thought useful in diseases of the chest; — so named by the inhabitants of St. Thomas. Dunglison.Ab'an-nā'tion or Ab'an-nī'tion, n. p. 2A banishment for one or two years for manslaughter. [Rare.] Bailey.Ab'ap-tis'ta or Ab'ap-tis'ton, n. p. 2(Surg.) The old trephine or trepan, a saw whose conical shape prevented it from plunging into the brain. Dunglison.A-bāre', v. t. p. 2To make bare; to uncover. [Obs.]Ab'ar-tĭc-ū-lā'tion, n. p. 2(Anat.) That species of articulation or structure of joints which admits of free motion; diarthrosis; dearticulation. Coxe.A-bās', n. p. 2A weight in Persia used in weighing pearls, one eighth less than the European carat, or three grains and a half Troy. Heyse.A-bāse', v. t. p. 2[Fr. abaisser, Pr. abaissar, It. abbassare, Sp. abajar, Pg. abaxar, abaixar, L. Lat. abassare and abbassare: Fr. baisser, Pr. baissar, It. bassare, Sp. bajar, Pg. baxar, baixar; Fr., Pr. bas, It.…A-bāsed', p. a. p. 2(Her.) Turned downward; — used of certain armorial bearings, when turned downward toward the point of the shield. Chambers.A-bāse'ment, n. p. 2The act of abasing, humbling, or bringing low; the state of depression, degradation, or humiliation.A-băsh',, v. t. p. 2To destroy the self-possession of; to cast down the countenance of; to make ashamed; to confuse or confound, as by exciting suddenly a consciousness of guilt, error, inferiority, and the like.…A-bāsh'ment, n. p. 2Confusion from shame. Which manner of abashment became her not ill. Skelton.A-băs'si or A-băs'sis, n. p. 2A silver coin of Persia, of the value of twenty cents.A-bāt'a-ble, a. p. 2Capable of being abated; as, an abatable writ or nuisance.A-bāte', v. t. p. 2To beat or batter down. [Obs.] The King of Scots . . . sore abated the walls [of the Castle of Norham.] Hall. 2. To bring down or reduce from a higher to a lower state, number, degree, &c.; to…A-bāte', v. i. p. 2To decrease, or become less in strength or violence; as, pain abates; a storm abates. 2. To be defeated, or come to naught; to fail; as, a writ abates. 3. (Man.) To perform well a downward motion. A…A-bāte', n. p. 2Abatement. [Obs.] Browne.A-bāte'ment, n. p. 2The act of abating, or the state of being abated; removal; diminution; reduction. 2. The sum, quantity, or amount by which any thing is abated; that which is taken away by way of reduction…A-bāt'er, n. p. 2One who, or that which, abates, destroys, or diminishes.A-bā'tor, n. p. 2A person who, without right, enters into a freehold on the death of the last possessor, before the heir or devisee; one who prostrates or removes a nuisance. Blackstone.Ăb'a-tĭs or Ăb'at-tĭs, n. p. 2(Fort.) A row of the large branches of trees, sharpened and laid with the points outward, in front of a fortification or any other position, to obstruct the approach of assailants. The larger ends of…Ab'a-ti'sed, a. p. 3Provided with an abatis.Abat-jour', n. p. 3(Arch.) A skylight.A-bat-toir', n. p. 3A public slaughter-house in a city.Ab'a-tūde, n. p. 3Any thing abated or diminished. Bailey.Ăb'a-tūre, n. p. 3Grass beaten or trampled down by a stag in passing. Bailey.Ab-a'wed', p. & a. p. 3Abashed. [Obs.] Chaucer.Abb, n. p. 3Among weavers, yarn for the warp. Hence, abb-wool is wool for the abb.