Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Băṅk, n. p. 106A mound, pile, or ridge of earth, raised above the surrounding level. They cast up a bank against the city. 2 Sam. xx. 15. 2. Any steep acclivity, whether rising from a river, a lake, or the sea, or…Bānk, v. t. p. 106To raise a mound or dike about; to inclose, defend, or fortify with a bank; to embank. “Banked well with earth.” Holland. 2. To pass by the banks of. [Obs. and rare.] Shak. 3. To lay up or deposit in…Bānk, v. i. p. 106To deposit money in a bank; to carry on banking.Banking house p. 106a banking office or firm.Bānk'a-ble, a. p. 106Receivable at a bank, as bills; or discountable, as notes.Bānk'-bill, n. p. 106In America, a promissory note of a bank payable to the bearer on demand, and forming part of the currency; a bank-note. 2. In England, a note, or a bill of exchange, of a bank, payable to order, and…Bāŋk'-bōok, n. p. 106A book in which the officers of a bank enter the debt and credit of a customer. Fourier.Bānk'-crēd'it, n. p. 106A credit by which, on proper security given to a bank, a person has liberty to draw to a certain extent agreed on. Ogilvie.Bănk'er, n. p. 106One who keeps a bank; one who traffics in money, receives and remits money, negotiates bills of exchange, &c. McCulloch. 2. One who receives money in trust, to be drawn again as the owner has…Bānk'et, n. p. 106(Bricklaying.) A piece of wood on which to cut bricks. Buchanan.Bānk'-fēnçe, n. p. 106A fence consisting of a bank of earth.Bānk'-hōok, n. p. 106A large fish-hook baited and attached by a line to the bank. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.Bānk'ing, n. p. 106The business or employment of a banker; the business of establishing a common fund for lending money, discounting notes, issuing bills, receiving deposits, collecting the money on notes deposited…Bānk'ing, a. p. 106Pertaining to, or conducted by, a bank; as, banking operations.Bănk'-nōte, n. p. 106A promissory note issued by a bank or banking company, payable to bearer on demand, and intended to circulate as money. Byles. ☞ Such notes, in England and America, form a large part of the currency.…Bānk'rout, n. p. 106See BANKRUPT. Marston.Bānk'rupt, n. p. 106(Eng. Law.) A trader who secretes himself, or does certain other acts tending to defraud his creditors. Blackstone. In this sense, a man may be a bankrupt and not insolvent, or insolvent and not a…Bănk'rupt, a. p. 106Having committed acts of bankruptcy; unable to pay debts; insolvent. “The king’s grown bankrupt.” Shak.Bănk'rupt, v. t. p. 106To break in trade; to make insolvent.Bănk'rupt-cy, n. p. 107The state of being bankrupt or insolvent; the state of a man whose business is stopped and broken up, because he is insolvent, and utterly incapable of carrying it on; inability to pay all debts.…Bānk'-stŏck, n. p. 107A share or shares in the capital stock of a bank.Bān'li-eue, n. p. 107The territory without the walls, but within the legal limits, of a town or city. Brande.Băn'ner, n. p. 107Originally, a small square flag borne before a banneret, whose arms were embroidered on it; hence, a military ensign; the principal standard of a prince or state; a pennon; a streamer. Hang out our…Băn'nered, a. p. 107Furnished with or bearing banners. “A bannered host.” Milton. Shield the strong foes, and rake the bannered shore. Barlow.Bān'ner-et, n. p. 107Originally, a military rank conferred only on such as were able to bring a certain number of vassals into the field; hence, a rank corresponding to this; also, a person sustaining the rank. ☞ The…Băn'ner-ōl, n. p. 107See BĀNDROL.Ban-ni'tion, n. p. 107The act of expulsion. [Obs.] Abp. Laud.Băn'nock, n. p. 107A cake made of oat, rye, pease, or barley meal, baked on an iron plate, over the fire;—used in Scotland and the northern counties of England. W. Scott.Băn'nock-flūke, n. p. 107A turbot. [Scottish.] Scott.Bāns, n. pl. p. 107See BAN, No. 2.Băn'quet, n. p. 107A feast; a rich entertainment. That dares prefer the toils of Hercules To dalliance, banquets, and ignoble ease. Dryden. 2. A dessert, or light entertainment at the end of a feast. [Obs.] There were…Băn'quet, v. t. p. 107To treat with a feast or rich entertainment. Just in time to banquet The illustrious company assembled there. Coleridge.Băn'quet, v. i. p. 107To regale one's self with good eating and drinking; to feast. Were it a draught for Juno when she banquets, I would not taste thy treasonous offer. Milton.Băn'quet, n. p. 107(Arch.) The footway of a bridge, when raised above the carriage way. Gwilt. 2. A small rod-shaped part of a horse's bridle, under the eye. Bailey.Băn'quet-er, n. p. 107One who banquets; one who feasts or makes feasts.Băn'quet-ing-room, n. p. 107A saloon or spacious hall for public entertainments. Formerly, the room where the dessert was placed, to which, after dinner, it was customary to remove. Coleridge.Băn-quette', n. p. 107(Fort.) A little raised way or foot-bank, running along the inside of a parapet, on which musketeers stand to fire upon the enemy in the ditch or in front of it. [See Illust. of Abattis.]Bān’shee or Bēn’shie, n. p. 107A supernatural being supposed by the Irish and Scotch peasantry to give notice to a family of the speedy death of some of its members, by chanting a mournful ditty under the windows of the house.…Bān'stick-le, n. p. 107(Bot.) A small fish, called also stickleback; a species of the genus Gasterosteus.Bān'tam, n. p. 107A very small variety of fowl, with feathered legs, brought, probably, from the kingdom of Bantam, a district of the island of Java. 2. A kind of painted or carved work resembling that of Japan, only…Bān’ter, v. t. p. 107To play upon in words and in good humor; to rally; to joke or jest with. “She . . . could scarcely forbear thinking we bantered her.” Locke. Syn.—To rally; joke; jest; sport; play; ridicule…Băn’ter, n. p. 107A joking or jesting; humorous raillery; wit or humor; pleasantry. “Part banter, part affection.” Tennyson.Bān'ter-er, n. p. 107One who banters or rallies.Bănt'ling, a. p. 107A young or small child; an infant. In what out-of-the-way corners genius produces her bantlings. W. Irving.Bān'yan or Ban-yān', n. p. 107(Bot.) A tree of the same genus with the common fig, and called the Indian fig (Ficus Indica), whose branches drop shoots to the ground, which take root and form new stocks, till they cover a space…Bā'o-bab, n. p. 107(Bot.) The Adansonia digitata, the largest known tree in the world. See ADANSONIA. Brande.Băp'hō-met, n. p. 107The imaginary symbol which the Templars were accused of employing in their mysterious rites.Bāp'tism, n. p. 107The act of baptizing; the application of water to a person, as a sacrament or religious ceremony, by which he is initiated into the visible church of Christ. This is usually performed by sprinkling…Bap-tĭs'mal, a. p. 107Pertaining to baptism; as, baptismal vows.Bap-tis'mal-ly, adv. p. 107In a baptismal manner.Bäp'tist, n. p. 107One who administers baptism, specifically applied to John, the forerunner of Christ. “Him the Baptist soon deserted.” Milton. 2. As a contraction of Anabaptist, one who denies the doctrine of infant…Bāp'tis-ter-y, n. p. 107A place where the sacrament of baptism is administered. “The . . . baptistery and leaning tower [at Pisa] are very well worth seeing.” Addison. ☞ Primitively, baptisteries were in buildings separate…Bap-tist'ic or Bap-tist'ic-al, a. p. 107Pertaining to baptism. “This baptistical profession which he ignorantly laughed at.” Bramhall.Bap-tis'tic-al-ly, adv. p. 107In a baptistical manner.Bap-tiz'a-ble, a. p. 107Capable of being baptized. [Rare.] N. E. Elders.Băp'ti-zā'tion, n. p. 107The act of baptizing. [Obs.] If they had been lay persons, their baptizations were null and void. Bp. Taylor.Bap-tīze', v. t. p. 107To administer the sacrament of baptism to; to christen.Bap-tīze'ment, n. p. 107The act of baptizing. [Rare.]Bap-tīz'er, n. p. 107One who baptizes, or administers baptism.Bär, n. p. 107A piece of wood, metal, or other solid matter, long in proportion to its diameter or width, used for various purposes, but especially for a hinderance or obstruction; as, the bars of a fence or gate…