Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
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- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Bāa, n. p. 100The cry or bleating of sheep.Bāa, v. i. p. 100To cry or bleat as sheep. “He treble baas for help.” Sidney.Bā'al, n. p. 100(Myth.) The supreme male divinity of the Phenician and Canaanitish nations. ☞ The name of this god occurs in the Old Testament and elsewhere with qualifying epithets subjoined, answering to the…Bā'al-ism, n. p. 100Worship of Baal, or of idols; idolatry. [Rare.] His seven thousand whose knees were not supplied with the Baalism of that age. Fuller.Bāb'bitt-mēt'al, n. p. 100A soft alloy of copper, zinc, and tin, used for the bearings of journals, &c., to diminish the friction. It takes its name from the inventor.Bāb'ble, v. i. p. 100To utter words imperfectly or unintelligibly; as, a child babbles. 2. To talk thoughtlessly or irrationally; to prate. ‘A babbled of green fields. Shak. 3. To make a constant murmuring noise, as a…Băb'ble, v. t. p. 100To prate; to utter. These [words] he used to babble in all companies. Arbuthnot. 2. To fill with babbling. [Obs. and rare.] “A babbled fool.” Marston.Băb'ble, n. p. 100Idle talk; senseless prattle. “This is mere moral babble.” Milton.Băb'ble-ment, n. p. 100Idle talk; senseless prate; unmeaning words. [Rare.] Carlyle.Băb’bler, n. p. 100An idle talker; an irrational prattler; a teller of secrets. 2. (Ornith.) One of a group of long-tailed, thrush-like birds, remarkable for their singular chattering notes; the Timaliæ. Baird.Băb'blish-ly, adv. p. 100In a babbling, prating manner. [Obs.] Whitgift.Bābe, n. p. 100An infant; a young child of either sex; a baby. 2. A doll for children. [Obs.] Spenser.Bābe'hōōd, n. p. 100Same as BABYHOOD. [Obs.] Udal.Bā'bel, n. p. 100The name of the city in the land of Shinar, where the confusion of languages took place. Gen. xi. 9. 2. A confused combination of sounds; confusion; disorder. “That babel of strange heathen…Bāb'er-y, n. p. 100Finery to please a child; any trifling toy for children. [Obs.] “Painted babery.” Sidney.Bā'bi-an or Bā'bi-on, n. p. 100A baboon. [Obs.] B. Jonson.Băb'i-rōus'să, n. p. 100(Zoöl.) A species of the family Suidæ, found in Asia, and called also the Indian or Abyssinian hog. Its upper canine teeth are enormously developed, ascending upward and curving back upon themselves.…Bāb'ish-ly, adv. p. 100Childishly. [Obs.]Bāb'ish-ness, n. p. 100Childishness. [Obs.]Bāb'lah, n. p. 100The rind or shell of the fruit of the Mimosa cineraria. It contains gallic acid and tannin, and has been used in dyeing drab. Ure.Bab-ōon', n. p. 100(Zool.) A division of the monkeys, belonging to the genus Cynocephalus. They have a long face, a broad, high muzzle, cheek pouches, dog-like tusks, or canine teeth, and naked callosities on the…Bā'by, n. p. 100An infant or young child of either sex; a babe. 2. A small image in form of an infant, for girls to play with; a doll. Babies in the eyes, the minute reflection which one sees of himself in the eyes…Bā'by, a. p. 100Pertaining to, or resembling, an infant. “Baby eyes.” Shak.Bā'by, v. t. p. 100To treat like a young child. Young.Bā'by-hoōd, n. p. 100The state of being a baby. Ash.Bā'by-house, n. p. 100A place for children's dolls and doll's furniture. Swift.Bā'by-ish, a. p. 100Like a baby; childish. “An affectation of babyish interjections.” Jeffrey.Bā'by-ish-ness, n. p. 100The characteristic quality of a baby; childishness.Bā'by-ism, n. p. 100The state or quality of a baby; babyhood. [Rare.] Jeffrey.Bā’by-jŭmp’er, n. p. 100A suspensory hoop or support for a child, attached to the ceiling of a room by a strap of vulcanized india-rubber, and used for exercise. Simmonds.Băb'y-lō'ni-an or Băb'y-lō'nish, a. p. 100Pertaining to Babylon, or the ancient kingdom of Babylonia.Băb'y-lō'ni-an, n. p. 100An inhabitant of Babylonia. 2. An astrologer;— so called because the Chaldeans were remarkable for the study of astrology.Băb'y-lŏn'ic or Băb'y-lŏn'ic-al, a. p. 100Pertaining to Babylon, or made there; as, Babylonic garments, carpets, or hangings. 2. Tumultuous; disorderly. Harrington.Bāb'y-lon-ite, n. p. 100The arrow-headed or cuneiform Babylonish character.Băb'y-rōus'sa, n. p. 100See BABIROUSSA.Bā'by-ship, n. p. 100The state or condition of a baby.Bāc or Bāck, n. p. 100(Brewing & Distilling.) A large tub or vessel into which the wort, &c., is drawn for the purpose of cooling, straining, mixing, &c. It has different names, according to its position and use; as…Băc'ea, n. p. 100(Bot.) A berry; a fruit which consists of a succulent pulp containing seeds, as the gooseberry.Băc'ca-lau're-ate, n. p. 100The degree of bachelor of arts, the first or lowest academical degree conferred by colleges in the British empire and the United States.Băc'e-la-u're-ate, a. p. 100Pertaining to a bachelor of arts. Baccalaureate sermon, in some American colleges, a farewell discourse delivered to a graduating class.Bae-cā'rē or Back-ā'rē p. 100Stand back! give place! — a cant word in the Elizabethan writers, probably in ridicule of some person who pretended to a knowledge of Latin which he did not possess. Let us, that are poor…Băc'cāte, a. p. 100(Bot.) Having a pulpy nature, like a berry. Gray.Băc'ēā-ted, a. p. 100Having many berries. 2. Set or adorned with pearls. [Obs.]Băc'eha-nal or Băc'eha-nā'li-an, n. p. 100A devotee of Bacchus; one who indulges in drunken revels; one who is noisy and riotous when intoxicated; a drunkard; a bacchant.Băc'cha-nal or Băc'cha-nā'li-an, a. p. 100Reveling in intemperate drinking; riotous; noisy; pertaining to reveling and drunkenness. Even bacchanalian madness has its charms. Cowper.Băc'cha-nā'li-an-ly, adv. p. 100In the manner of bacchanals.Băc'cha-nals or Băc'cha-nā'li-ā, n. pl. p. 100(Myth.) Feasts in honor of Bacchus; hence, drunken feasts; the revels of Bacchanalians.Bac-chānt', n. p. 100A priest of Bacchus. 2. A bacchanal; a reveler; a drunkard. Croly.Bac-chānte’, n. p. 100A priestess of Bacchus. 2. A female bacchanal.Bac-chān'tēs, n. pl. p. 100Priests or devotees of Bacchus.Băc'chic or Băc'chic-al, a. p. 100Relating to Bacchus; hence, jovial with intoxication; drunken. Spenser.Bac-chi'us, n. p. 100(Pros.) A foot composed of a short syllable and two long ones; as in āvārī.Băc'chus, n. p. 100The god of wine, and son of Jupiter and Semele, daughter of Cadmus.Bac-çif'er-oŭs, a. p. 100Producing berries. “Bacciferous trees.” See BACCA. Ray.Bac-cĭv'o-roŭs, a. p. 100Eating, or subsisting on, berries; as, baccivorous birds.Bāçe, n. & a. p. 100Same as BASE, q. v. Spenser.Bāch'e-lor, n. p. 100A man of any age who has not been married. As merry and mellow an old bachelor as ever followed a hound. Irving. 2. A person who has taken the first degree in the liberal arts, at a college or…Băch'e-lor-hōod or Băch'e-lor-ĭsm, n. p. 101State or condition of a bachelor; bachelorship.Băch'e-lor's-bŭt'ton, n. p. 101(Bot.) An herbaceous perennial plant, the yellow variety being the double Ranunculus acris. ☞ The flowers of the campion, of the common burdock, of the scabious, and of the centaury, are sometimes…Băch'e-lor-shĭp, n. p. 101The state of being a bachelor.