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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- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
D p. 330D, in the English alphabet, is the fourth letter, and the third consonant or articulation. See Principles of Pronunciation, §70.Dā-äl'der, n. p. 330A Dutch silver coin, equivalent in value to 2s. 7d. sterling.Dăb, v. t. p. 330To strike gently, as with a soft or moist substance. A sore should . . . be wiped . . . only by dabbing it with fine lint. Sharp. 2. To strike gently with the hand; to slap. St. Paul himself…Dăb, n. p. 330A gentle blow with the hand or some soft substance; hence, a sudden blow or hit. 2. A small lump or mass of any thing soft, with which something is dabbed. 3. One who can dab skillfully; a skillful…Dăb'ble, v. t. p. 330To wet by little dips or strokes; to sprinkle; to spatter; to moisten. “Bright hair dabbled in blood.” Shak.Dăb'ble, v. i. p. 330To play in water, as with the hands; to paddle or splash in mud or water. Calm lakes . . . Where the duck dabbles 'mid the rustling sedge. Wordsworth. 2. To work in a slight or superficial manner; to…Dăb'bler, n. p. 330One who dabbles. 2. One who dips slightly into any thing; a superficial meddler. He dares not complain of the toothache, lest our dabblers in politics should be ready to swear against him for…Dăb'bling-ly, adv. p. 330In a dabbling manner.Dăb'chĭck, n. p. 330(Ornith.) A certain water-fowl allied to the grebe, of the family Colymbus, and genus Podiceps; — called also dipchick, didapper, and dobchick. As when a dabchick waddles through the copse. Pope. 2.…Dăb'ster, n. p. 330One who is skilled; one who is expert; a master of his business. [Colloq.]Dă că'po p. 330(Mus.) From the beginning; a direction to return to, and end with, the first strain; — indicated by the letters D. C.Dāce, n. p. 330(Ichth.) A small river fish, of a bright silvery color, of the family Cyprinus and genus Leuciscus, the common dace being L. vulgaris. Baird.Dă'cian, n. p. 330(Geog.) An inhabitant of the ancient Dacia, which embraced Transylvania, Moldavia, and other adjoining regions.Dă'cian, a. p. 330(Geog.) Belonging to Dacia or the Dacians.Da-coit', n. p. 330See DAKOIT.Da-coit'y, n. p. 330See DAKOITY.Dăc'ry-gē-lō'sis, n. p. 330(Med.) A disease in which the patient laughs and weeps at the same time. Dunglison.Dăc'ry-ō'mă, n. p. 330(Med.) A diseased condition of the eye, by which the tears are prevented from passing into the nose, and in consequence trickle over the face.Dāe'tyl, n. p. 330(Pros.) A poetical foot of three syllables, one long, followed by two short, or one accented followed by two unaccented;—so called from the similarity of its arrangement to that of the joints of a…Dăc'tyl-ār, a. p. 330Pertaining to a dactyl; dactylic.Dăc'tyl-et, n. p. 330A dactyl. [Obs.]Dac-tŷl'ic, a. p. 330Pertaining to, or consisting chiefly or wholly of, dactyls; as, dactylic verses.Dac-tŷl'ic, n. p. 330A line consisting chiefly or wholly of dactyls. “Cantering dactylic measure.” Prescott.Dac-tŷl'i-o-glŷph, n. p. 330An engraver of gems for rings and other ornaments. 2. The inscription of the name of the artist on a finger-ring or gem.Dac-tŷl'i-ŏg'ly-phy, n. p. 330The art of engraving upon precious stones.Dac-tȳl'i-ŏg'ra-phy, n. p. 330The science or art of gem-engraving.Dac-tŷl'i-ŏl'o-gy, n. p. 330The science which treats of the history and qualities of finger-rings.Dac-tŷl'i-o-măn'cy, n. p. 330Divination by means of finger-rings.Dăc'tyl-ĭst, n. p. 330One who writes dactylic verse.Dāc'tyl-ŏl'ō-ǵy, n. p. 330A method of communication which employs what is called a manual alphabet, or finger alphabet, that is, certain positions and motions of the hand and fingers answering to the common written alphabet.…Dăc'tyl-ŏn'o-my, n. p. 330The art of numbering or counting by the fingers.Dăc'tyl-ŏp'ter-ōus, a. p. 330(Ichth.) Having the inferior rays of the pectoral fin partially free;—said of a fish. Ogilvie.Dac'tyl-ŏp'ter-ŭs, n. p. 330(Ichth.) A genus of fishes containing two species, the flying fish, or flying gurnard, and the D. orientalis of Cuvier. Ogilvie.Dăd or Dăd'dy, n. p. 330Father;—a word used by small children. I was never so bethumped with words, Since first I called my brother's father dad. Shak.Dăd'dle, v. i. p. 330To walk unsteadily, like a child or an old man; hence, to do any thing slowly.Dăd'dle, n. p. 330The hand or foot; the fist. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.Dăd’dock, n. p. 330The rotten body of a tree.Dăd'dy-lŏng'-lĕgs, n. p. 330(Entom.) An insect of the genus Tipula, having a small body, and very long, slender legs; the crane-fly;—called also father-long-legs.Dā'dle, v. t. p. 330To hold up by leading strings, as a child. [Obs.] Little children when they learn to go By painful mothers dailed to and fro. Drayton.Dāde, v. i. p. 330To walk unsteadily, as a child held up by leading strings, or just learning to walk; to move slowly; to daddle. [Obs.] No sooner taught to dade, than from their mother trip. Drayton.Dāde, n. p. 330A kind of bird, apparently a wader. There's neither swallow, dove, nor dade, Can soar more high or deeper wade. Loyal Garland, 1686.Dä'do, n. p. 330(Arch.) The die or square part in the middle of the pedestal of a column, between the base and the cornice; also, that part of an apartment between the plinth and the impost molding. Gwill.Dæ'dal or Dæ-dā'li-an, a. p. 331Formed with art; displaying artistic skill; ingenious; intricate; maze-like. Then doth the dædal earth throw forth to thee, Out of her fruitful lap, abundant flowers. Spenser. Come then, haste all…Dæd'a-loŭs, a. p. 331(Bot.) Having a margin with various windings and turnings; of a beautiful and delicate texture; — said of the leaves of plants.Däff, n. p. 331A stupid, blockish fellow. [Obs.] Chaucer.Däff, v. t. p. 331To daunt. [Prov. Eng.] Grose.Däff, v. t. p. 331To toss aside; to put off. [Obs.] Canst thou so daff me? Thou hast killed my child. Shak.Däff, v. i. p. 331To act foolishly; to be sportive; to toy. [Scot.] Jamieson.Dăf'fle, v. i. p. 331To show want or loss of memory; to be forgetful.Dăf'fo-dĭl, n. p. 331(Bot.) A plant of the genus Narcissus (N. pseudo-narcissus). It has a bulbous root, and beautiful flowers, usually of a yellow hue; — called also daffodilly, daffadilly, and daffadowndilly. A college…Dȧft, a. p. 331Delirious; insane; hence, stupid; foolish. Let us think no more of this daft business. W. Scott. 2. Innocently gay; sportive; playful; also, disposed to go to excess in mirth. [Scot.] Jamieson.Dăg, n. p. 331A dagger or poniard. 2. A kind of pistol formerly used. The Spaniards discharged their dags, and hurt some of them. Foxe. A sort of pistol, called dag, was used about the same time as hand-guns and…Dăg, n. p. 331A misty shower; dew. [Obs.] Halliwell.Dăg, n. p. 331A loose end, as of locks of wood; — called also dag-locks. 2. A leathern latchet.Dăg, v. t. p. 331To daggle or bemire. [Prov. Eng.] Johnson. 2. To cut into strips or points; to slit; as, to dag the edge of a garment. [Obs.]Dăg, v. i. p. 331To be misty. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.Dăg'ġer, n. p. 331A short sword; a poniard. Sidney. 2. (Print.) A mark of reference in the form of a dagger; thus [†]. It is the second reference used when more than one occurs on a page;—called also obelisk. To look…Dăg'ġer, v. t. p. 331To pierce with a dagger; to stab.Dăgges, n. pl. p. 331The ornamental cutting of the edges of garments, introduced about A. D. 1346, according to the Chronicles of St. Albans. Halliwell.Dăg'gle, v. t. p. 331To trail so as to wet or befoul; to dip; to wet; to dirty. The warrior's very plume, I say, Was daggled by the dashing spray. W. Scott.