Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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.Bär'ba-ry, n. p. 108A Barbary horse; a barb. B. & Fl.Bär'bate, a. p. 108(Bot.) Bearing lines, spots, or tufts of hair; bearded. Gray.Bär'ba-ted, a. p. 108Having barbed points. “A dart uncommonly barbated.” Warton.Bärbe, n. p. 108See BARB, No. 4.Bär'be-cŭe, n. p. 108A hog, ox, or other large animal roasted whole. 2. A large social entertainment, usually in the open air, at which animals are roasted whole, and other provisions of all kinds are consumed.Bär'be-cūe, v. t. p. 108To dress and roast whole, which is done by splitting the animal to the back-bone, and roasting it on a gridiron. “Lend me, gods, a whole hog barbecued.” Pope.Bär'bel, n. p. 108A small vermiform process appended to the mouth of certain fishes, and subservient to the sense of touch. Brande. 2. (Ichth.) A large fresh-water fish (Barbus vulgaris) found in many European rivers.…Bär'bel-late, a. p. 108(Bot.) Having bearded or barbed bristles. Gray.Bär-bĕl'lu-late, a. p. 108(Bot.) Having small bearded bristles. Gray.Bär'ber, n. p. 108One whose occupation is to shave the beard, and to cut and dress the hair, of others.Bär'ber, v. t. p. 108To shave and dress the hair of. Shak.Bär'ber-chi-rûr'geon, n. p. 108A barber who practiced surgery; a barber-surgeon; hence, a low practitioner of surgery. Wiseman.Bär'ber-ess, n. p. 108A female barber. [Obs.]Bär'ber-mŏn'ger, n. p. 108A man who frequents the barber's shop, or prides himself in being dressed by a barber; a fop. [Obs.] Shak.Bär'ber-ry, n. p. 108(Bot.) A shrubby plant of the genus Berberis, common in hedges. B. vulgaris is the species best known; its berries are used as preserves in sugar, and have been deemed efficacious in fluxes and…Bär'ber-sŭr'geon, n. p. 108One who adds the business of a surgeon to that of a barber. [Formerly barber-chirurgeon.] Thackeray.Bär'bet, n. p. 108A variety of dog having long curly hair. 2. (Ornith.) A bird of the genus Bucco, characterized by a large, conical, slightly-compressed beak, which is swollen at the base, and bearded with five…Bar-bĕtte', n. p. 108(Fort.) A mound of earth on which guns are mounted to fire over the top of the parapet. ☞ Guns are in barbette when they are elevated so as to fire over the top of a parapet, and not through…Bär'bi-can, n. p. 108See BARBACAN.Bär'-bi-ton, n. p. 108(Mus.) An ancient Greek instrument resembling a lyre. Brande.