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An American Dictionary of the English Language

by Noah Webster

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.

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  1. Bābe'hōōd, n.p. 100Same as BABYHOOD. [Obs.] Udal.
  2. 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…
  3. Bāb'er-y, n.p. 100Finery to please a child; any trifling toy for children. [Obs.] “Painted babery.” Sidney.
  4. Bā'bi-an or Bā'bi-on, n.p. 100A baboon. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
  5. 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.…
  6. Bāb'ish-ly, adv.p. 100Childishly. [Obs.]
  7. Bāb'ish-ness, n.p. 100Childishness. [Obs.]
  8. 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.
  9. 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…
  10. 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…
  11. Bā'by, a.p. 100Pertaining to, or resembling, an infant. “Baby eyes.” Shak.
  12. Bā'by, v. t.p. 100To treat like a young child. Young.
  13. Bā'by-hoōd, n.p. 100The state of being a baby. Ash.
  14. Bā'by-house, n.p. 100A place for children's dolls and doll's furniture. Swift.
  15. Bā'by-ish, a.p. 100Like a baby; childish. “An affectation of babyish interjections.” Jeffrey.
  16. Bā'by-ish-ness, n.p. 100The characteristic quality of a baby; childishness.
  17. Bā'by-ism, n.p. 100The state or quality of a baby; babyhood. [Rare.] Jeffrey.
  18. 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.
  19. Băb'y-lō'ni-an or Băb'y-lō'nish, a.p. 100Pertaining to Babylon, or the ancient kingdom of Babylonia.
  20. 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.
  21. 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.
  22. Bāb'y-lon-ite, n.p. 100The arrow-headed or cuneiform Babylonish character.
  23. Băb'y-rōus'sa, n.p. 100See BABIROUSSA.
  24. Bā'by-ship, n.p. 100The state or condition of a baby.
  25. 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…
  26. Băc'ea, n.p. 100(Bot.) A berry; a fruit which consists of a succulent pulp containing seeds, as the gooseberry.
  27. 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.
  28. 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.
  29. Bae-cā'rē or Back-ā'rēp. 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…
  30. Băc'cāte, a.p. 100(Bot.) Having a pulpy nature, like a berry. Gray.
  31. Băc'ēā-ted, a.p. 100Having many berries. 2. Set or adorned with pearls. [Obs.]
  32. 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.
  33. 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.
  34. Băc'cha-nā'li-an-ly, adv.p. 100In the manner of bacchanals.
  35. 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.
  36. Bac-chānt', n.p. 100A priest of Bacchus. 2. A bacchanal; a reveler; a drunkard. Croly.
  37. Bac-chānte’, n.p. 100A priestess of Bacchus. 2. A female bacchanal.
  38. Bac-chān'tēs, n. pl.p. 100Priests or devotees of Bacchus.
  39. Băc'chic or Băc'chic-al, a.p. 100Relating to Bacchus; hence, jovial with intoxication; drunken. Spenser.
  40. Bac-chi'us, n.p. 100(Pros.) A foot composed of a short syllable and two long ones; as in āvārī.
  41. Băc'chus, n.p. 100The god of wine, and son of Jupiter and Semele, daughter of Cadmus.
  42. Bac-çif'er-oŭs, a.p. 100Producing berries. “Bacciferous trees.” See BACCA. Ray.
  43. Bac-cĭv'o-roŭs, a.p. 100Eating, or subsisting on, berries; as, baccivorous birds.
  44. Bāçe, n. & a.p. 100Same as BASE, q. v. Spenser.
  45. 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…
  46. Băch'e-lor-hōod or Băch'e-lor-ĭsm, n.p. 101State or condition of a bachelor; bachelorship.
  47. 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…
  48. Băch'e-lor-shĭp, n.p. 101The state of being a bachelor.
  49. Bā'çil-lā'ri-æ, n. pl.p. 101Microscopic, silicious organisms, consisting of slender rectangular segments which have the power of moving or sliding on each other. They are now regarded as plants.
  50. Băck, n.p. 101See BAC.
  51. Băck, n.p. 101The upper or hinder part of an animal, from the neck to the loins. 2. A broad, high ridge. [The mountains] their broad, bare backs upheave Into the clouds. Milton. 3. The outward or upper part of a…
  52. Băck, adv.p. 101To the place from which one came; to, in, or toward the rear; as, to go back. 2. To a former state, condition, or station; as, to go back to poverty. 3. Away from contact; by reverse movement. The…
  53. Băck, v. t.p. 101To get upon the back of; to mount. I will back him [a horse] straight. Shak. 2. To place upon the back. [Rare.] Shak. 3. To support; to maintain; to second or strengthen by aid; as, the court was…
  54. Băck, v. i.p. 101To move or go back; as, the horse refuses to back.
  55. Băck, a.p. 101In the rear; remote; as, the back settlements; backward in direction; as, back action.
  56. Băck'bīte, v. t.p. 101To censure, slander, reproach, or speak evil of, in the absence of the person traduced. Spenser.
  57. Băck'bīte, v. i.p. 101To censure or revile the absent. They are arrant knaves, and will backbite. Shak.
  58. Băck'-bīt'er, n.p. 101One who backbites; a secret calumniator or detractor.
  59. Băck'/bĭt/ing-ly, adv.p. 101With secret slander. Barret.
  60. Băck'bōard, n.p. 101A board placed across the after part of a boat for the passengers to lean against. 2. A board attached to the rim of a water-wheel to prevent the water from running off the floats or paddles into the…