Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
- 1,538
- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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.A-cā-lē'phoid, a. p. 9Resembling the Medusæ, or jelly fishes. Dana.A-căl'y-cĭne or A-căl-yc'ĭ-nous, a. p. 9(Bot.) Without a calyx or flower cup. Gray.A-cāmp'to-sōme, n. p. 9One of an order of cirrhipeds, in which the body is enveloped in a shell, and so attached that it can not be unfolded and protruded. Brande.A-căn’thă, n. p. 9(Bot.) A prickle. 2. (Zool.) A spine or prickly fin. Encyc. Brit. 3. (Anat.) The vertebral column; the spinous process of a vertebra. Dunglison.A-can-thā'ceous, a. p. 9Armed with prickles, as a plant.A-căn’thīce, n. p. 9The sweet juice of ivy buds.A-căn’thīne, a. p. 9Pertaining to the plant Acanthus. The acanthine garments of the ancients were made of the down of thistles, or embroidered in imitation of the acanthus.A-cān’thi-on, n. p. 9A genus of rodent animals. Ogilvie.A-căn-thōph'er-ōŭs, a. p. 9Having, or producing, spines or prickles.Ăc'an-thŏp'te-ryg'i-an, n. p. 9One of an order of fishes having thorny fins.A·can·thŏp·te·rȳg'i·ous, a. p. 9(Zoöl.) Having fins in which the rays are hard and spine-like;—a term used to describe an order of fishes. Dana.A·căn'thus, n. p. 9(Arch.) An ornament resembling the foliage or leaves of the acanthus;—used in the capitals of the Corinthian and Composite orders. 2. (Bot.) A genus of herbaceous prickly plants, found in the south…a cap'ella p. 9(Mus.) In church or chapel style;—said of compositions sung in the old church style, without instrumental accompaniment; as, a mass a capella, i. e., a mass purely vocal.A·căr'i·dan, n. p. 9One of a group of small spiders, including the mite and the tick.A-càr'poüs, a. p. 9(Bot.) Not producing fruit; unfruitful.Ăc'a-rŭs, n. p. 9A genus of small spiders, embracing the mites and ticks. Baird.A-căt/a-lēc'tic, n. p. 9(Pros.) A verse which has the complete number of syllables without defect or superfluity. Johnson.A-căt/a-lēc'tic, a. p. 9(Pros.) Not defective; complete; as, an acatalectic verse.A-căt'a-lep-sy, n. p. 9The doctrine held by the ancient Academics and Skeptics that human knowledge never amounts to certainty, but only to probability. [Rare.] Bacon.A·căt'a·lĕp'tic, a. p. 9Incapable of being certainly comprehended or discovered.A-cā'ter, n. p. 9A caterer. [Obs.]A-cātes', n. pl. p. 9Food; viands. [Obs.]Ăc'a-thĭs'tus, n. p. 9A hymn of the ancient Greek church in honor of the Virgin.Ā'cau-lĕs'çent or A-cau'lĭne or A-cau'lōse or A-cau'loŭs, a. p. 9(Bot.) Having no stem or caulis, or only a very short one concealed under ground, as the Carline thistle. Gray.Ac-cēde′, v. i. p. 9To agree or assent, as to a proposition, or to terms proposed by another. Hence, to become a party, by agreeing to the terms of a treaty or convention. Another power has acceded to the treaty.…Ac-cel'e-rān'do, a. p. 9(Mus.) Gradually increasing in quickness.Ac-cĕl'er-āte, v. t. p. 9To cause to move faster; to hasten; to quicken the motion or action of; to add to the velocity of. 2. To add to the natural or ordinary progression of; as, to accelerate the growth of a plant, or the…Ae-cĕl'er-ā'tion, n. p. 9The act of accelerating, or the state of being accelerated; increase of motion or action; as, a falling body moves toward the earth with an acceleration of velocity. A period of social improvement…Ac-cĕl'er-a-tīve, a. p. 10Adding to velocity; quickening progression. Reid.Ae-cĕl'er-ā'tor, n. p. 10One who, or that which, accelerates; specifically, in English usage, a light van for carrying mails between the post-office and railway stations, &c.Ae-cĕl'er-a-to-ry, a. p. 10Serving to accelerate, or quicken motion; accelerative.Ac-cēnd', v. t. p. 10To set on fire; to kindle. [Obs.]Ac-cĕnd/i-bĭl'i-ty, n. p. 10Capacity of being kindled, or of becoming inflamed.Ac-cēnd'i-ble, a. p. 10Capable of being inflamed or kindled. Ure.