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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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Ab-dūc'tor, n. p. 3A person guilty of abduction. 2. (Anal.) A muscle which serves to draw a part out or from the median line of the body; as, the abductor oculi, which draws the eye outward.A-bēam', adv. p. 3(Naut.) On the beam, i. e., at right angles to the ship's keel.A-bear', v. t. p. 3To bear; to behave. [Obs.] So did the faery knight himself abear. Spenser.A-beâr'ançe, n. p. 3Behavior; demeanor. Blackstone.Ā'be-çe-dā'ri-an, n. p. 3One who teaches or learns the letters of the alphabet. Cockerman.Ā/be-çē'da-ry or Ā/be-çē-dā'ri-an, a. p. 3Pertaining to, or formed by, the letters of the alphabet. Abecedarian psalms, hymns, &c., compositions in which (like the 119th psalm) distinct portions have the verses commence with successive…A-bĕd’, adv. p. 3On, or in, bed. Spenser.A-bēle' or A'bel-tree, n. p. 3The white poplar (Populus alba). Loudon.A-bĕl'i-an or Āʹbel-ite or Ab'e-lō'ni-an, n. p. 3(Eccl. Hist.) One of a reputed temporary sect in Africa, mentioned only by Augustine, who states that they married, but lived in continence, after the manner, as they pretended, of Abel, and…A'bel-mōsk, n. p. 3(Bot.) The musk-mallow (Abelmoschus moschatus), or Syrian mallow, which produces seeds of a musky odor, often used in the East for giving flavor to coffee, and also in perfumery. Lindley.A-bĕr'de-vīne, n. p. 3(Ornith.) The European siskin (Carduelis spinus), a small green and yellow finch, belonging to the same sub-species as the goldfinch of England. Brande.Ab-ērr′, v. i. p. 3To wander; to stray; to err. [Obs.] Aberring several ways from the true and just compute. Browne.Ab-ěr'rance or Ab-ěr'ran-cy, n. p. 3A deviation from truth or from rectitude. Browne.Ab-ěr'rant, a. p. 3Wandering; straying from the right way. 2. Deviating widely from the type of a natural group; exceptional; abnormal; as, an aberrant animal, plant, and the like. Carpenter.Ăb'ěr-rāte, v. i. p. 3To wander; to deviate from the right way. [Rare.] The product of their own defective and aberrating vision. De Quincey.Ăb'er-rā'tion, n. p. 3The act of wandering; deviation, especially from truth or moral rectitude, or from the natural state. “The aberrations of youth.” Hall. “Aberrations from theory.” Burke. Whims, which at first are the…Ab'e-rūn'cāte, v. t. p. 4To pull up by the roots; to extirpate utterly. [Obs.] Bailey.Ăb'e-rūn'ea-tor, n. p. 4A weeding machine.A-bĕt', v. t. p. 4To encourage by aid or countenance;—formerly used in a good, but now chiefly in a bad sense. “The whole tribe abets the villainy.” South. Would not the fool abet the stealth, Who rashly thus exposed…A-bĕt', n. p. 4Act of abetting or aiding. [Obs.] Chaucer.A-bĕt'ment, n. p. 4The act of abetting; as, the abetment of friends.A-bĕt'tal, n. p. 4The act of abetting or encouraging. [Rare.] Bailey.A-bĕt'tor, n. p. 4One who abets, instigates, or incites, aids, or encourages another to commit a crime. See ACCESSORY. Bouvier. Syn. — ABETTOR, ACCESSORY, ACCOMPLICE. These words denote different degrees of complicity…Ăb'e-văc-ū-ā'tion, n. p. 4(Med.) (a.) An imperfect evacuation. (b.) An immoderate evacuation. Dunglison.A-be̱y'ançe, n. p. 4Expectation or contemplation of law. ☞ When there is no person in existence in whom an inheritance can vest, it is said to be in abeyance, that is, in expectation; the law always considering it…A-be̱y'ant, a. p. 4In a state of abeyance or suspension.Ăb'gre-gāte, v. t. p. 4To separate from a herd. [Obs.] Ash.Ăb'gre-gā'tion, n. p. 4Separation from a herd or flock. [Obs.] Smart.Āb'hāl, n. p. 4An East Indian fruit obtained from a species of cypress. Dunglison.Ab-hōm'i-na-ble, a. p. 4Abominable;—a false and affected orthography of abominable, founded upon the mistaken notion that the word was derived from ab homine instead of abominare. The error was not uncommon among writers of…Ab-hôr', v. t. p. 4To shrink back with shuddering from; to regard with horror or detestation; to feel excessive repugnance toward; to hate extremely. Syn.—To hate; detest; loathe; abominate. See HATE.Ab-hôr', v. i. p. 4To shrink back with fear or shuddering. [Rare.] 2. To be contrary or averse; — with from. “Which is utterly abhorring from the end of all law.” Milton.Ab-hŏr'rençe, n. p. 4Extreme hatred or detestation.Ab-hŏr'ren-çy, n. p. 4Abhorrence. [Obs.] Locke.Ab-hŏr'rent, a. p. 4Abhorring; detesting; abominating; struck with abhorrence; hating. The arts of pleasure in despotic courts I spurn abhorrent. Glover. 2. Contrary or repugnant; discordant; inconsistent. “Injudicious…Ab-hŏr'rent-ly, adv. p. 4With abhorrence.Ab-hôr'rer, n. p. 4One who abhors. Hume.Ab-hŏr'ri-ble, a. p. 4Worthy of being abhorred; abominable; detestable. T. Scott.Ab-hôr'ring, n. p. 4The object of abhorrence. “They shall be an abhorring to all flesh.” Isa. lxvi. 24.Ā'bĭb, n. p. 4The first month of the Jewish ecclesiastical year, usually called Nisan, answering to the latter part of March and beginning of April. It was so called from barley being at that time in the ear.…A-bīd'ance, n. p. 4The act of abiding. [Rare.] The Christians had no longer abidance in the holy hill of Palestine. Fuller.A-bide', v. i. p. 4To stay or continue in a place; to take up one's abode; to dwell. Let the damsel abide with us a few days. Gen. xxiv. 55. 2. To remain stable or fixed in some state or condition; as, to abide by a…A-bīde′, v. t. p. 4To wait for; to be prepared for; to await; as, I abide my time. Bonds and afflictions abide me. Acts xxii. 23. 2. To bear or endure, i. e., to remain firm under. Who can abide the fierceness of his…A-bīd'er, n. p. 4One who abides or dwells.A-bid'ing-ly, adv. p. 4In an abiding manner; permanently. Hawes.Ab'i·et'ic, a. p. 4Belonging to the fir-tree or its products; as, abietic acid.Ăb'i-gail, n. p. 4A lady's waiting-maid. W. Irving. Her abigail reported that Mrs. Gutheridge had a set of night-curls for sleeping in. Leslie.A-bĭl'i-ment, n. p. 4Capacity; ability. [Obs.] “Abiliment to steer a kingdom.” Ford.A-bil'i-ty, n. p. 4The quality, state, or condition of being able; power, whether physical, moral, intellectual, or conventional or legal; capacity; competence; sufficiency of strength, skill, resources, or the like; —…Ab'in-tēs'tate, a. p. 4(Law.) Inheriting the estate of one dying without a will.Ab'ir-ri-tā'tion, n. p. 4(Med.) A pathological condition opposite to that of irritation; debility; want of strength. Dunglison.Ab-jēct′, v. t. p. 4To throw away; to cast down. [Obs.]Ăb'ject, a. p. 4Sunk to a low condition; hence, low in estimation; without hope or regard; worthless; mean; despicable; vile; base. And banish hence these abject, lowly dreams. Shak.Ab'ject, n. p. 4A person in the lowest and most despicable condition. Servants and abjects flout me. Herbert. Shall these abjects, these victims, these outcasts, know any thing of pleasure? L. Taylor.Ab-jēct'ed-ness, n. p. 4A very abject or low condition. [Rare.]Ab-jec'tion, n. p. 4The act of bringing down or humbling. "The abjection of the king and his realm." Joye. 2. The state of being rejected or cast away. An abjection from the beatific regions where God, and his angels…Ăb'ject-ly, adv. p. 4In an abject or contemptible manner; meanly; servilely.Ăb'ject-ness, n. p. 4The state of being abject; meanness; servility. Grew.Ab-jū'di-cāte, v. t. p. 4To give away in judgment. Ash.Ab-jū'di-cā'tion, n. p. 4Rejection. Knowles.