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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- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
F p. 489F, the sixth letter of the English alphabet, is a labio-dental articulation, formed by the passage of breath between the lower lip and the upper incisive teeth, or between the upper lip and the lower…Fā p. 489A syllable applied to the fourth tone of the gamut or model scale, for the purposes of solmization;—used by the French and Italians to designate the fourth tone of the scale of absolute pitch…Fa-bā'ceoŭs, a. p. 489Having the nature of a bean; like a bean. [Obs.]Fā'bi-an, a. p. 489Delaying; dilatory; avoiding battle, in imitation of Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus, a Roman general who conducted military operations against Hannibal, by declining to risk a battle in the open…Fā'ble, n. p. 489A feigned story or tale, intended to instruct or amuse; a fictitious narration intended to enforce some useful truth or precept; an apologue. Jotham's fable of the trees is the oldest extant, and as…Fā'ble, v. i. p. 489To feign; to write or speak fiction; to write or utter what is not true. Vain now the tales which fabling poets tell. Prior.Fā'ble, v. t. p. 489To feign; to invent; to devise, and speak of, as true or real; to tell of falsely. “The hell thou fablest.” Milton.Fā'bler, n. p. 489A writer of fables or fictions; a dealer in feigned stories; a fabulist. Johnson.Fāb'ric, n. p. 489The structure of any thing; the manner in which the parts of a thing are united by art and labor; workmanship; texture; make; as, cloth of a beautiful fabric. 2. That which is fabricated; as, (a.)…Fāb’ric, v. t. p. 489To frame; to build; to construct. [Obs.] “Fabric their mansions.” Philips.Fāb'ri-cant, n. p. 489A manufacturer; a working tradesman. Simmonds.Fāb'ri-cāte, v. t. p. 489To form into a whole by uniting its parts; to frame; to construct; to build; as, to fabricate a bridge or ship. 2. To form by art and labor; to manufacture; to produce; as, to fabricate woolens. 3.…Fāb'ri-cā'tion, n. p. 489The act of fabricating, framing, or constructing; construction; manufacture; as, the fabrication of a bridge, a church, or a government. Burke. 2. That which is fabricated; a falsehood; as, the story…Fāb'ri-cā'tor, n. p. 489One who constructs or makes.Fāb'ri-cā'tress, n. p. 489A female who fabricates.Fāb'rile, a. p. 489Pertaining to a workman, or to work in stone, metal, wood, and the like; as, fabrile skill. [Obs.]Fāb'ū-list, n. p. 489One who invents or writes fables. “Borrowing a device from the Arabian fabulists.” Hare.Fāb'ū-līze, v. t. p. 489To invent, compose, or relate fables. Faber.Făb'ū-lōs'i-ty, n. p. 489The quality of being fabulous; fullness of fables; fabulousness. [Obs.] Abbott. 2. A fabulous or fictitious story; a fable. Browne.Fāb'ū-lōŭs, a. p. 489Feigned, as a story or fable; related in fable; devised; invented; not real; fictitious; as, a fabulous description; a fabulous hero. “The fabulous birth of Minerva.” Chesterfield. Fabulous age, that…Fāb'ū-loŭs-ly, adv. p. 489In a fabulous manner; in fable or fiction.Fāb'ū-loŭs-ness, n. p. 489The state or quality of being fabulous or feigned, or of inventing fables.Fāb'ur-den, n. p. 489A species of counterpoint with a double bass. 2. That which is high-sounding or lofty.Façade, n. p. 489Front; front view or elevation of an edifice. Warton.Fāçe, n. p. 489The exterior form or appearance of any thing; that part which presents itself to the view; especially, the front part or surface; that which particularly offers itself to the view of a spectator.…Fāçe, v. t. p. 489To meet in front; to oppose with firmness; to resist, or to meet for the purpose of stopping or opposing; as, to face an enemy in the field of battle. I'll face This tempest, and deserve the name of…Fāçe, v. i. p. 489To carry a false appearance; to play the hypocrite. “To lie, to face, to forge.” Hubbard. 2. To turn the face; as, to face to the right or left. Face about, man; a soldier, and afraid! Dryden.Fāçe'-ā'güe, n. p. 489(Med.) A form of neuralgia, characterized by acute lancinating pains returning at intervals, and by twinges in certain parts of the face, producing convulsive twitches in the corresponding…Fāçe'-clōth, n. p. 489A cloth laid over the face of a corpse. Brande.Fāçe'-guārd, n. p. 489A kind of mask to defend the face and eyes, as in various chemical and mechanical processes.Fāçe'less, a. p. 489Without a face.Fāçe'-pāint'er, n. p. 489A painter of portraits; one who draws the likeness of the face.Fāçe'-piēçe, n. p. 489(Naut.) A piece of wood wrought on the fore-part of the knee of the head. Totten.Fāçe'-plāte, n. p. 489(Mach.) The disk attached to the revolving spindle of a lathe, upon which the work is often fastened.Fā'cer, n. p. 489One who faces; one who puts on a false show; a bold-faced person. There be no greater talkers, nor boasters, nor facers. Latimer.Fāç'et, n. p. 489A little face; a small surface; as, the facets of a diamond. [Written also facette.]Fā-çēte', a. p. 489Facetious. [Rare.] “A facete discourse.” Bp. Taylor. Good manners must have induced them, now and then, “here to interpose” with a small, smart remark, sentiment facete, or unctuous anecdote. Prof.…Fāç'et-ed, a. p. 489Having facets; formed into facets.Fa-çēte'ly, adv. p. 489With good humor; sportively. [Rare.] Burton.Fa-çēte'ness, n. p. 489Wit; pleasant representation. [Obs.] Hales.Fa-cē'ti-æ, n. pl. p. 489Witty or humorous writings or sayings; witticisms.Fa-çē'tioŭs, a. p. 489Given to wit and good humor; merry; sportive; jocular; as, a facetious companion. 2. Characterized by wit and pleasantry; exciting laughter; as, a facetious story or reply.Fa-çē'tioŭs-ly, adv. p. 489In a facetious manner; merrily; gayly; wittily; with pleasantry.Fa-çē'tioŭs-ness, n. p. 489The state of being facetious; the manifestation of a facetious spirit; sportive humor; pleasantry.Fa-çĕtte', n. p. 489A small plane surface; a facet. See FACET.Fā'cial or Facial angle, a. p. 489Pertaining to the face; as, the facial artery, vein, or nerve. Facial angle (Anat.), the angle formed, in a profile view of the face, by two straight lines, one of which is drawn from the middle of…Fā'cial-ly, adv. p. 490In a facial manner.Fā'cient, n. p. 490One who does any thing, good or bad; a doer; an agent. [Obs.] Bp. Hacket.Fā'ci-ēs, n. p. 490(Nat. Hist.) The general aspect or habit of a species, or its habit for a particular region.Făc'ile, a. p. 490Easy to be done or performed; not difficult; performable or attainable with little labor. Order . . . will render the work facile and delightful. Evelyn. 2. Easy to be surmounted or removed; easily…Fā'cile-ly, adv. p. 490In a facile or easy manner; easily. “So facilely he bore his royal person.” Chapman.Făc'ile-ness, n. p. 490The state of being facile; easiness to be persuaded or overcome.Fa-cĭl'i-tāte, v. t. p. 490To make easy or less difficult; to free from difficulty or impediment; to lessen the labor of; as, to facilitate the execution of a task. To invite and facilitate that line of proceeding which the…Fa-cil'i-tā'tion, n. p. 490The act of facilitating or making easy.Fa-cĭl'i-ty, n. p. 490The quality of being easily performed; freedom from difficulty; ease; as, the facility of a work or operation. Though facility and hope of success might invite some other choice. Bacon. 2. Ease in…Fā'çing, n. p. 490A covering in front for ornament or other purposes; as, the facing of a garment; the facing of an earthen slope to increase its steepness. 2. (Mil.) The movement of soldiers by turning on their heels…Fā'çing-ly, adv. p. 490In a facing manner or position.Fā'çing-sănd, n. p. 490(Founding.) A compound, usually of molding-sand and pulverized bituminous coal, to make the surfaces of molds.Fa-çĭn'o-roŭs, a. p. 490Atrociously wicked. [Obs.] Shak.Fa-cĭn'o-rōus-ness, n. p. 490Extreme or atrocious wickedness. [Obs.]