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An American Dictionary of the English Language

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.

  1. Ear, n.p. 423The organ of hearing. In man and the higher animals it is composed of three portions; the external ear, which is a cartilaginous funnel, covered by the integument serving to collect sonorous…
  2. Ear, v. i.p. 423To put forth the ear in growing; to form ears, as corn.
  3. Ear, v. t.p. 423To take in with the ears; to hear. [Obs.] “I eared her language.” Beau. & Fl.
  4. Ear, v. t.p. 423To plow or till. “Let them go to ear the land.” Shak.
  5. Ear'a-ble, a.p. 423Admitting of being, or used to being tilled; arable. [Obs.]
  6. Ear'āche, n.p. 423Pain in the ear.
  7. Ear'al, a.p. 423Receiving by the ear. [Obs.] Hewyt.
  8. Ear'-bōred, a.p. 423Having the ear perforated. Hall.
  9. Ear'-cāp, n.p. 423A cover for the ears against cold.
  10. Ear'-drōp, n.p. 423An ear-ring, or pendant for the ear.
  11. Ear'-drŭm, n.p. 423The tympanum of the ear. See — EAR.
  12. Ear'i-ness, n.p. 423Fear or timidity, especially of something supernatural. [Written also eiryness.] The sense of eariness, as twilight came on. De Quincey.
  13. Ēar'ing, n.p. 423(Naut.) A rope attached to the cringle of a sail, by which it is bent or reefed. R. H. Dana.
  14. Ear'ing, n.p. 423A plowing of land. [Obs.] “Neither earing nor harvest.” Gen. xlv. 6.
  15. Earl, n.p. 423A nobleman of England ranking below a marquis, and above a viscount. The rank of an earl corresponds to that of a count (comte) in France, and graaf in Germany.
  16. Ear'-lăp, n.p. 423The tip of the ear.
  17. Earl'dōm, n.p. 423The seigniory, jurisdiction, or dignity of an earl.
  18. Earl'dor man, n.p. 423The same as ALDERMAN.
  19. Earles'-pĕn'ny, n.p. 423Money given in part payment; an installment of money. [Obs.]
  20. Ear'less, a.p. 423Without ears; deaf or unwilling to hear. Earless on high stood unabashed Defoe. Pope.
  21. Ear'li-ness, n.p. 423The state of being early or forward; promptness.
  22. Earl'-mār'shal, n.p. 423An officer of state in England who marshals and orders all great ceremonials, takes cognizance of all matters relating to honor, arms, and pedigree, and directs the proclamation of peace and war. The…
  23. Ear'lōck, n.p. 423A lock or curl of hair near the ear; a love-lock.
  24. Ēar'ly, a.p. 423In advance of the usual or appointed time; in good season; prior in time; as, an early spring; early fruit; early hours, and the like. Syn.—Forward; timely; not late.
  25. Ear'ly, adv.p. 423Soon; in good season; seasonably; promptly; betimes; as, rise early; come early. Those that seek me early shall find me. Prov. viii. 17.
  26. Ear'-märk, n.p. 424A mark on the ear by which a sheep is known. 2. (Law.) A sign or token by which one thing may be known from another; a note or mark for identification; a distinguishing mark. “Money is said to have…
  27. Ear'-märk, v. t.p. 424To mark, as sheep, by cropping or slitting the ear.
  28. Earn, v. t.p. 424To merit or deserve by labor; to do that which entitles to a reward, whether the reward is received or not. The high repute Which he through hazard huge must earn. Milton. 2. To acquire by labor…
  29. Earn, v. i.p. 424To long for; to feel anxiety; to yearn. [Obs.] And ever as he rode, his heart did earn To prove his puissance in battle brave. Spencer.
  30. Earn, v. i.p. 424To curdle, as milk. [Prov. Eng.]
  31. Ear'nest, a.p. 424Ardent in the pursuit of an object; eager to obtain; intent upon acquiring. “Importune with earnest prayers.” Shak. 2. Intent; fixed. 3. Serious; important. [Obs.] “They whom earnest lets do often…
  32. Ear'nest, n.p. 424Seriousness; reality; fixed determination; eagerness; intentness. Take heed that this jest do not one day turn to earnest. Sidney. And give in earnest what I begged in jest. Shak. 2. [Probably…
  33. Ear'nest, v. t.p. 424To use in earnest. [Old and rare.] “To earnest them [arms] with men.”
  34. Ear'nest-ly, adv.p. 424In an earnest manner; warmly; eagerly; also, with fixed attention.
  35. Ear'nest-món'ey, n.p. 424Money paid as earnest, to bind a bargain or to ratify and prove a sale.
  36. Ear'nest-ness, n.p. 424The state of being earnest; ardor or zeal in the pursuit of any thing; eagerness; intenseness of desire; fixed attention; seriousness; care; anxiety; as, to ask with earnestness. “An honest…
  37. Earn'ful, a.p. 424Full of anxiety or yearning. [Obs.] P. Fletcher.
  38. Ẽarn'ing, n.p. 424That which is earned; that which is gained or merited by labor, services, or performances; wages; reward; — used commonly in the plural. As to the common people, their stock is in their persons and…
  39. Ēar'-pĭck, n.p. 424An instrument for cleansing the ear.
  40. Ēar'-rēach, n.p. 424Hearing-distance. [Obs.] “All stand without ear-reach.” Marston.
  41. Ēar'-rĕnt, n.p. 424Rent paid by loss of the ears. [Obs.] A hole to thrust your heads in, For which you should pay ear-rent. B. Jonson.
  42. Ear'-ring, n.p. 424An ornament, sometimes set with diamonds, pearls, or other jewels, suspended from the ear, by means of a ring passing through the lobe.
  43. Earsh, n.p. 424A plowed field. [Obs.] May. 2. Grass that grows after mowing or reaping. See EDDISH.
  44. Ear'-shēll, n.p. 424(Conch.) A flattened univalve, a species of Haliotis, having a pearly, iridescent inner coating, which is used for inlaid work.
  45. Ear'-shōt, n.p. 424Reach of the ear; distance at which words may be heard. Dryden.
  46. Ẽarst, adv.p. 424See ERST. Spenser.
  47. Ẽarth, n.p. 424The globe which we inhabit; that one of the planets on which man dwells; the world, in distinction from the sun, moon, or stars. O thou in heaven and earth the only peace. Milton. 2. The solid…
  48. Ẽarth, v. t.p. 424To hide, or cause to hide, in the earth; to bury. “The fox is earthed.” Dryden. 2. To cover with earth or mold;—sometimes with up. The miser earths his treasure, and the thief, Watching the mole…
  49. Ēarth, v. i.p. 424To retire under ground; to burrow. “Here foxes earthed.” Tickell.
  50. Earth'-āp'ple, n.p. 424A cucumber. Ogilvie. 2. A potato. Ogilvie.
  51. Earth'-bāg, n.p. 424(Mil.) A bag filled with earth, used for defense in war.
  52. Earth'-bānk, n.p. 424A bank or mound of earth.
  53. Earth'-bōard, n.p. 424(Agric.) The board of a plow, or other implement, that turns over the earth; the mold-board.
  54. Ēarth’bŏrn, a.p. 424Born of the earth; terrigenous; springing originally from the earth. “Some earth-born giant.” Milton. 2. Relating to, or occasioned by, earthly objects. All earth-born cares are wrong. Goldsmith.
  55. Ēarth'-bound, a.p. 424Fastened by the pressure of the earth. Shak.
  56. Earth'-brēd, a.p. 424Low; abject; groveling.
  57. Earth'-ere-āt/ed, a.p. 424Formed of earth. Young.
  58. Earth'-din, n.p. 424An earthquake. [Obs.]
  59. Earth'-drāke, n.p. 424A mythical monster of the early Anglo-Saxon literature; a dragon. He sacrifices his own life in destroying a frightful earth-drake or dragon. W. Spalding.
  60. Earth'en, a.p. 424Made of earth; made of burnt or baked clay, or other like substances; as, an earthen vessel; earthen ware.