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.
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…Bär, v. t. p. 107To fasten with a bar; as, to bar a door or gate. 2. To hinder; to obstruct; to prevent; to prohibit; as, to bar the entrance of evil; the distance between us bars our intercourse; the statute bars my…Bär, v. t. p. 107To adorn with trappings. [Obs.] See BARB. Drayton. Heywood.Bärb, n. p. 107Beard, or that which resembles it, or grows in the place of it. The barbel, so called by reason of his barbs, or wattles in his mouth. Walton. 2. The point that stands backward in an arrow…Bärb, v. t. p. 107To shave or dress the beard of. [Obs.] It was the desire of the penitent to be so barbed. Shak. 2. To mow. [Obs.] Marston. 3. To furnish with barbs, as an arrow, fish-hook, spear, or other…Bār'ba-can or Bār'bi-can, n. p. 108(Fort.) An advanced work defending the entrance to a castle or city, as at a drawbridge or gate; it was often large and strong, having a ditch and drawbridge of its own. Within the barbacan the…Bär'ba-can-ağe, n. p. 108Money paid for the support of a barbacan. [Obs.] Bouvier.Bār-bā'di-an, n. p. 108(Geog.) An inhabitant of Barbadoes.Bär-bā'dōes Chĕr'ry p. 108A tree of the West Indies, producing a pleasant, tart fruit; Malpighia glabra.Bār-bā'dōes Tār p. 108Mineral pitch or petroleum, which flows as a thick fluid from the earth or rocks in many places. See BITUMEN. Dana.Bär'ba-rà, n. p. 108(Logic.) The first words in technical verses intended to represent the various forms of the syllogism. It indicates a syllogism whose three propositions are universal affirmatives. Whately.Bār-bā'ri-an, n. p. 108A foreigner. [Obs.] Proud Greece all nations else barbarians held. Denham. 2. A man in his rude, savage state; an uncivilized person. Pyrrhus, seeing the Romans marshal their army with some art and…Bār-bā'ri-an, a. p. 108Pertaining to, or resembling, savages; rude; uncivilized; cruel; inhuman; as, barbarian governments; barbarian treatment.Bār-bār'ic, a. p. 108Of, or from, the barbarous nations of the east. With diamond flaming, and barbaric gold. Pope. 2. Pertaining to, or resembling, an uncivilized person or people; barbarous; barbarian. “Wild, barbaric…Bär'ba-rïsm, n. p. 108An uncivilized state or condition; rudeness of manners, and ignorance of arts, learning, and literature; savagism; barbarousness. Prescott. 2. An act of barbarity, cruelty, or brutality; an outrage.…Bar-bār'i-ty, n. p. 108The manners of a barbarian; savageness; cruelty; ferociousness; inhumanity. All the rudeness, reproach, and barbarity imaginable. Clarendon. 2. Barbarism; impurity of speech. [Obs.] Swift.Bär'ba-rize, v. i. p. 108To become barbarous. [Rare.] The Roman empire was barbarizing rapidly from the time of Trajan. De Quincey. 2. To use or adopt a foreign or barbarous mode of speech. The ill habit which they get of…Bär'ba-rīze, v. t. p. 108To make barbarous. Hideous changes have barbarized France. Burke.Bär'ba-roŭs, a. p. 108Uncivilized or savage; coarse; rough; as, the conquered became as barbarous as the conquerors. Then art a Roman; be not barbarous. Shak. 2. Cruel; ferocious; inhuman; as, barbarous treatment. By…Bär'ba-roŭs-ly, adv. p. 108In a barbarous manner.Bär'ba-roŭs-ness, n. p. 108The quality or state of being barbarous; barbarity; barbarism.