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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.

  1. Ăc'a-dēme', n.p. 9An academy. [Obs.] “Our court shall be a little academe.” Shak. See ACADEMY.
  2. Ăc'a-dē'mi-al, a.p. 9Pertaining to an academy. [Obs.]
  3. Ăc'a-dē'mi-an, n.p. 9A member of an academy, university, or college. Marston.
  4. 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.
  5. A-cā-dēm'ic, n.p. 9One holding the philosophy of Socrates and Plato. Hume. 2. A student in a college or university. Watts.
  6. A-cā-dēm'ic-al-ly, adv.p. 9In an academical manner.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. A-căd'e-mĭsm, n.p. 9The doctrine of the academic philosophy. Baxter.
  10. A-căd'e-mĭst, n.p. 9A member of an academy for promoting arts and sciences; also, an academic philosopher.
  11. 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…
  12. A-cā'di-an, a.p. 9Pertaining to Acadia, or Nova Scotia.
  13. Ăc'a-jou, n.p. 9The Cashew-nut tree. Simmonds.
  14. 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.
  15. A-cā-lē'phoid, a.p. 9Resembling the Medusæ, or jelly fishes. Dana.
  16. A-căl'y-cĭne or A-căl-yc'ĭ-nous, a.p. 9(Bot.) Without a calyx or flower cup. Gray.
  17. 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.
  18. 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.
  19. A-can-thā'ceous, a.p. 9Armed with prickles, as a plant.
  20. A-căn’thīce, n.p. 9The sweet juice of ivy buds.
  21. 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.
  22. A-cān’thi-on, n.p. 9A genus of rodent animals. Ogilvie.
  23. A-căn-thōph'er-ōŭs, a.p. 9Having, or producing, spines or prickles.
  24. Ăc'an-thŏp'te-ryg'i-an, n.p. 9One of an order of fishes having thorny fins.
  25. 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.
  26. 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…
  27. a cap'ellap. 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.
  28. A·căr'i·dan, n.p. 9One of a group of small spiders, including the mite and the tick.
  29. A-càr'poüs, a.p. 9(Bot.) Not producing fruit; unfruitful.
  30. Ăc'a-rŭs, n.p. 9A genus of small spiders, embracing the mites and ticks. Baird.
  31. A-căt/a-lēc'tic, n.p. 9(Pros.) A verse which has the complete number of syllables without defect or superfluity. Johnson.
  32. A-căt/a-lēc'tic, a.p. 9(Pros.) Not defective; complete; as, an acatalectic verse.
  33. 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.
  34. A·căt'a·lĕp'tic, a.p. 9Incapable of being certainly comprehended or discovered.
  35. A-cā'ter, n.p. 9A caterer. [Obs.]
  36. A-cātes', n. pl.p. 9Food; viands. [Obs.]
  37. Ăc'a-thĭs'tus, n.p. 9A hymn of the ancient Greek church in honor of the Virgin.
  38. 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.
  39. 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.…
  40. Ac-cel'e-rān'do, a.p. 9(Mus.) Gradually increasing in quickness.
  41. 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…
  42. 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…
  43. Ac-cĕl'er-a-tīve, a.p. 10Adding to velocity; quickening progression. Reid.
  44. 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.
  45. Ae-cĕl'er-a-to-ry, a.p. 10Serving to accelerate, or quicken motion; accelerative.
  46. Ac-cēnd', v. t.p. 10To set on fire; to kindle. [Obs.]
  47. Ac-cĕnd/i-bĭl'i-ty, n.p. 10Capacity of being kindled, or of becoming inflamed.
  48. Ac-cēnd'i-ble, a.p. 10Capable of being inflamed or kindled. Ure.
  49. Ac-cĕn'sion, n.p. 10The act of kindling or setting on fire; or the state of being kindled. Locke.
  50. Ăc'cent, n.p. 10A superior force of voice or of articulative effort upon some particular syllable of a word, distinguishing it from the others. ☞ Many English words have two accents, the primary and the secondary…
  51. Ac-cĕnt', v. t.p. 10To express or note the accent of; to pronounce, utter, or mark with accent. Accented parts of a measure (Mus.), those parts of the measure on which the stress falls, as the first and third in…
  52. Ae-cĕnt’or, n.p. 10(Mus.) One that sings the leading part. [Obs.] 2. (Zool.) A genus of birds (so named from their sweet notes), including the hedge sparrow. Baird.
  53. Ac-cént'ū-al, a.p. 10Pertaining to accent.
  54. Ac-cĕnt'ū-āte, v. t.p. 10To mark or pronounce with an accent or accents.
  55. Ac-cĕnt/ū-ā′tion, n.p. 10The act of placing accents in writing, or of pronouncing them in speaking.
  56. Ae-cēpt', v. t.p. 10To take or receive with a consenting mind, as an offer or present. If you accept them, then their worth is great. Shak. 2. To receive with favor or approbation. The Lord accept thy burnt sacrifices.…
  57. Ac-cĕpt'a-ble, a.p. 10Capable, worthy, or sure of being accepted or received with pleasure; hence, pleasing to a receiver; gratifying; agreeable; welcome; as, an acceptable present. Formerly, and for a long time, this…
  58. Ac-cĕpt'a-ble-ness or Ac-cĕpt'a-bĭl'i-ty, n.p. 10The quality of being acceptable or agreeable to a receiver, or to a person with whom one has intercourse.
  59. Ac-cēpt'a-bly, adv.p. 10In an acceptable manner; in a manner to please or give satisfaction.
  60. Ae-cēpt'ance, n.p. 10The act of accepting; a receiving with approbation or satisfaction; favorable reception; as, work done to acceptance. They shall come up with acceptance on my altar. Isa. lx. 7. 2. (Com.) (a.) An…