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.
Ăb’stract-ness, n. p. 8The state or quality of being abstract. See ABSTRACTLY. Johnson.Ab-strict'ed, a. p. 8Unbound. (Obs.) Ogilvie.Ab-strĭn'ge, v. t. p. 8To unbind.Ab-strūde′, v. t. p. 8To thrust away. [Obs.] Johnson.Ab-struse', a. p. 8Concealed or hidden. The eternal eye whose sight discerns Abstract thoughts. Milton. 2. Remote from apprehension; difficult to be comprehended or understood. “Abstruse points in philosophy.” Locke.Ab-struse'ly, adv. p. 8In an abstruse manner; obscurely.Ab-strūse'ness, n. p. 8The state or quality of being abstruse. Boyle.Ab-stru'sion, n. p. 8The act of thrusting away. Ogilvie.Ab-strū'si-ty, n. p. 8Abstuseness; that which is abstruse. [Rare.] Browne.Ab-sūme’, v. t. p. 8To bring to an end by a gradual waste; to consume. Boyle.Ab-sūmp'tion, n. p. 8Waste; destruction. [Obs.] Browne.Ab-sürd', a. p. 8Opposed to manifest truth; inconsistent with reason, or the plain dictates of common sense; logically contradictory. 'Tis phrase absurd to call a villain great. Pope. This proffer is absurd and…Ab-sûrd', n. p. 8An act of absurdity. [Rare.] This arch absurd that wit and fool delights. Pope.Ab-sûrd'i-ty, n. p. 8The quality of being absurd or inconsistent with obvious truth, reason, or sound judgment. “The absurdity of the actual idea of an infinite number.” Locke. 2. That which is absurd. His travels were…Ab-sûrd'ly, adv. p. 8In an absurd manner.Ab-sûrd'ness, n. p. 8The same as ABSURDITY.A-bŭ'na, n. p. 8The head of the Abyssinian church.A-bŭn'dance, n. p. 8An overflowing fullness; ample sufficiency; great plenty; — strictly applicable to quantity only, but sometimes used of number. It is lamentable to remember what abundance of noble blood hath been…A-bŭn'dant, a. p. 8Fully sufficient; plentiful. Thy abundant goodness shall excuse This deadly blot in thy digressing son. Shak. Syn. — Ample; plentiful; copious; plenteous; exuberant; overflowing; rich. See AMPLE.…A-bŭn'dant-ly, adv. p. 8In a sufficient degree; fully; amply; plentifully.A-bū'sa-ble, a. p. 8That may be abused.A-bŭ'sage, n. p. 8Abuse. [Obs.] Whately.A-būse', v. t. p. 8To make an ill or improper use of; to use ill; to misuse; to use with bad motives, to wrong purposes, or in a wrong way; as, to abuse one's rights or privileges; to abuse words. They that use this…A-būse', n. p. 8Ill use; improper treatment or employment; application to a wrong purpose; as, an abuse of our natural powers; an abuse of civil rights, or of religious privileges; abuse of advantages; an abuse of…A-būse'ful, a. p. 9Using or practicing abuse; abusive. [Rare.] Bp. Barlow.A-bŭs'ĕr, n. p. 9One who abuses in speech or behavior.A-bū'sion, n. p. 9Evil or corrupt usage; reproach; deception; abuse. [Obs.] Spenser.A-bū'sĭve, a. p. 9Practicing abuse; offering harsh words or ill treatment; as, an abusive author; an abusive fellow. 2. Containing abuse, or being the instrument of abuse; rude; reproachful; scurrilous. “An abusive…A-bŭ'sĭve-ly, adv. p. 9In an abusive manner; rudely; reproachfully.A-bŭ'sive-ness, n. p. 9The quality of being abusive; rudeness of language, or violence to the person. Pick out of mirth, like stones out of thy ground, Profaneness, filthiness, abusiveness. Herbert.A-bŭt', v. i. p. 9To terminate or border; to be contiguous; to meet.A-bŭt'ment, n. p. 9That on which a thing abuts, or that which meets or abuts on any thing. Hence, the solid part of a pier or wall, &c., which receives the thrust or lateral pressure of an arch, or from which it…A-bŭt'tal, n. p. 9The butting or boundary of land, particularly at the end; a head-land. Spelman.A-bŭt'ter, n. p. 9One who, or that which, abuts; as, the abutters on a street.Ab'vo-lāte, v. t. p. 9To fly from. [Obs.] Ash.Ab'vo-lā'tion, n. p. 9The act of flying away.A-bŷ', v. t. & i. p. 9To pay; to atone; to give satisfaction. [Obs.] His life for due revenge should dear aby. Spenser.A-bÿsm′, n. p. 9A gulf; an abyss. “Into the abysm of hell.” Shak.A-bŷs'mal, a. p. 9Pertaining to, or resembling, an abyss; bottomless; unending. Geology gives one the same abysmal extent of time that astronomy does of space. Carlyle.A-by̆ss', n. p. 9A bottomless depth; a gulf; hence, any deep, immeasurable space, and, specifically, hell, or the bottomless pit. “Ye powers and spirits of this nethermost abyss.” Milton. Thy throne is darkness, in…A-by̆ss'al, a. p. 9Belonging to, or resembling, an abyss. ☞ The abyssal zone (Physical Geog.), one of the belts or zones into which Sir E. Forbes divides the bottom of the sea in describing its plants, animals, &c. It…Ab'ys-sĭn'i-an, a. p. 9Belonging to Abyssinia, or its inhabitants.Ăb'ys-sĭn'i-an, n. p. 9A native or an inhabitant of Abyssinia; — specifically, a member of the Abyssinian church.A-cā'ci-ā, n. p. 9(Antiq.) A roll or bag, seen on medals, as in the hands of several emperors and consuls, the object of which is not known.A-cā'ci-ā, n. p. 9(Bot.) A genus of leguminous trees and shrubs, usually with thorns and pinnate leaves, and of an airy, elegant appearance. ¶ The Acacia grows in all the tropical parts of both the old world and the…A-cā'ci-an, n. p. 9(Eccl. Hist.) One of a sect in the early church, so called from their leaders, Acacius, bishop of Cæsarea, and Acacius, patriarch of Constantinople. Some of them maintained that the Son was only a…Ăc'a-dēme', n. p. 9An academy. [Obs.] “Our court shall be a little academe.” Shak. See ACADEMY.Ăc'a-dē'mi-al, a. p. 9Pertaining to an academy. [Obs.]Ăc'a-dē'mi-an, n. p. 9A member of an academy, university, or college. Marston.Ăc'a-dĕm'ic or Ăc'a-dĕm'ic-al, a. p. 9Belonging to the school or philosophy of Plato; as, the Academic sect. 2. Belonging to an academy or other institution of learning. “Academic courses.” Warburton. “Academical study.” Berkeley.A-cā-dēm'ic, n. p. 9One holding the philosophy of Socrates and Plato. Hume. 2. A student in a college or university. Watts.A-cā-dēm'ic-al-ly, adv. p. 9In an academical manner.A c'a-dēm'ic-als, n. pl. p. 9The articles of dress prescribed or usually worn in an academy or other institution of learning.Ăc'a-dē-mī'cian, n. p. 9A member of an academy, or society for promoting arts and sciences; particularly, a member of the French Academy.A-căd'e-mĭsm, n. p. 9The doctrine of the academic philosophy. Baxter.A-căd'e-mĭst, n. p. 9A member of an academy for promoting arts and sciences; also, an academic philosopher.A-căd'e-my, n. p. 9A garden or grove near Athens, belonging to a person named Academus, where Plato and his followers held their philosophical conferences; hence, the school of philosophy of which Plato was head. 2. A…A-cā'di-an, a. p. 9Pertaining to Acadia, or Nova Scotia.Ăc'a-jou, n. p. 9The Cashew-nut tree. Simmonds.Ăc'a-leph or Ăc'a-lē'pha or Ăc'a-lē'phan, n. p. 9(Zoöl.) A radiate animal of the class Medusæ, or jelly fishes; — so called from the stinging or nettling power they possess and exercise. Sometimes called sea-nettles.