Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Răck'er, n. p. 1080One who racks, tortures, or torments. 2. A horse that racks, or moves with a racking pace.Răck'et, n. p. 1080A thin strip of wood, &c., having the ends brought together, forming a somewhat elliptical hoop, from side to side of which a net-work of cord is stretched, and furnished with a handle. It is used…Răck'et, v. i. p. 1080To make a confused noise or clamor; to frolic. Gray.Răck'et, v. t. p. 1080To strike as with a racket. Hewyt.Răck'et-cōurt, n. p. 1080A tennis-court.Răck'et-y, a. p. 1080Making a tumultuous noise.Răck'ing, a. p. 1080Tormenting; excruciating; as, a racking pain.Räck'ing-căn, n. p. 1080A metal vessel containing sour beer, in which iron wire is steeped for wire-drawing. 2. A vessel for clearing wine from the lees.Räck'-lash'ing, n. p. 1080(Mil.) A lashing where the rope is tightened and held tight by the use of a small stick of wood twisted around.Rāck'-rēnt, n. p. 1080An annual rent raised to the utmost, or to the full annual value of the premises, or near it.Răck'-rènt'ed, a. p. 1080Subjected to the payment of rack-rent. Franklin.Răck'-rĕnt'er, n. p. 1080One who is subjected to pay rack-rent. Locke.Hăck'-saw, n. p. 1080A saw having wide teeth.Răck'-stick, n. p. 1080(Mil.) The stick used in a rack-lashing.Ra-cō'vi-an, n. p. 1080(Eccl. Hist.) One of a certain sect of Unitarians in Poland;— so called from Racow, a city where was a public seminary for the inculcation of their doctrines.Ra-cō'vi-an, a. p. 1080Of, or pertaining to, the Racovians; as, the Racovian Catechism.Rā'cy, a. p. 1080Having a strong flavor indicating origin; tasting of the soil; hence, fresh; rich; as, racy cider; racy wine. 2. Hence, exciting to the mental taste by a strong or distinctive character of thought or…Rād, imp. p. 1080of read. [Obs.] Spencer.Rād'dle, v. t. p. 1080To interweave; to twist together. De Foe.Rād'dle, n. p. 1080A long stick used in hedging. 2. A hedge formed by interweaving the shoots and branches of trees or shrubs;—called also r'ad-dle-hedge. Todd. 3. An instrument consisting of a wooden bar, with a row…Răd'dock, n. p. 1080A certain bird, the redbreast of Europe. [Written also ruddock, q. v.]Rāde, n. p. 1080The same as RAID. See RAID.Ra-deau', n. p. 1080A float; a raft. “Three vessels under sail, and one at anchor, above Split Rock, and behind it the radeau Thunderer.” W. Irving.Rā'di-al, a. p. 1080Pertaining to a radius; shooting out as from a center; as, radial lines. 2. Pertaining to the radius, one of the bones of the fore-arm of the human body; as, the radial artery or nerve.Rā'di-al-ly, adv. p. 1080In the manner of a radius, or of rays; as, bars arranged radially.Rā'di-ance or Rā'di-an-cy, n. p. 1080The quality of being radiant; brilliancy; vivid brightness; as, the radiance of the sun. The Son, Girt with omnipotence, with radiance crowned Of majesty divine. Milton. Syn.—Luster; brilliancy…Rā'di-ant, a. p. 1080Emitting or proceeding from a center; radiating; radiate. 2. Especially, emitting or darting rays of light or heat; issuing in beams or rays; beaming with brightness; emitting a vivid light or…Rā'di-ant, n. p. 1080(Opt.) The luminous point or object from which light emanates; or a body reflecting light brightly. 2. (Geom.) A straight line proceeding from a given point, or fixed pole, about which it is…Rā'di-ant-ly, adv. p. 1081In a radiant manner; with glittering splendor.Rā'di-a-ry, n. p. 1081One of the Radiata. Kirby.Rā'di-ā'tă, n. pl. p. 1081(Zoöl.) One of the subkingdoms of animals in which all the parts are arranged uniformly around the longitudinal axis of the body. See ANIMAL KINGDOM.Rā'di-āte, v. i. p. 1081To issue and proceed in direct lines from a point or surface, as heat or light. 2. To issue in rays, as light; to dart, as beams of brightness; to shine. Light radiates from luminous bodies directly…Rā'di-āte, v. t. p. 1081To emit or send out in direct lines from a point or points; as, to radiate heat. 2. To enlighten; to illuminate; to shed light or brightness on; to irradiate. [Rare.]Rā'di-ate, a. p. 1081Formed of rays diverging from a center; as, a radiate mineral; having the parts of a structure arranged radiately about a center; as, a radiate animal. 2. (Bot.) Having large ray-florets in a flower…Rā'di-ā'ted, a. p. 1081(Min.) Having crystals diverging from a center. 2. (Zoöl.) Belonging to the division Radiata.Rā'diā'ted-veined, a. p. 1081(Bot.) Having the principal veins radiating or diverging from the apex of the petiole; — said of certain reticulate leaves. Gray.Rā'di-ate-ly, adv. p. 1081In a radiate manner; with radiation or divergence from a center.Rā'di-ates, n. pl. p. 1081The same as RADIATA.Rā'di-ā'tion, n. p. 1081The act of radiating, or the state of being radiated; emission and diffusion of rays of light; beamy brightness. 2. The divergence or shooting forth of any thing from a point or surface, like the…Rā'di-ā'tor, n. p. 1081That which radiates or emits rays, whether of light or heat; especially, that part of a heating apparatus the use of which is to radiate heat.Rād'i-cal, a. p. 1081Pertaining to the root; proceeding directly from the root. 2. Hence, pertaining, or relating, to the root or origin; reaching to the center, to the foundation, to the ultimate sources, or the like…Rād'i-cal, n. p. 1081(Philology.) (a.) A primitive word; a radix, root, or simple, underived, uncompounded word; an etymon. (b.) A primitive letter; a letter that belongs to the radix. The words we at present make use…Răd'i-cal-ism, n. p. 1081The doctrine or principle of radicals in politics or reformation. Radicalism means root-work; the uprooting of all falsehoods and abuses. F. W. Robertson.Răd/i-eăl'ity, n. p. 1081Origination. [Obs.] Browne. 2. The state or quality of being radical; relation to a root in essential nature or principle.Rād'i-cal-ly, adv. p. 1081At the origin or root; fundamentally; as, a scheme or system radically wrong or defective. 2. Without derivation; primitively; essentially; originally. [Rare.] “These great orbs thus radically…Rād'i-cal-ness, n. p. 1081The state or quality of being radical or fundamental.Rād'i-cant, a. p. 1081(Bot.) Taking root on, or above, the ground; rooting from the stem, as the trumpet-creeper.Rād'i-cāte, v. t. p. 1081To root; to plant deeply and firmly; as, radicated opinions; radicated knowledge. Glanville.Rād'i-cate, a. p. 1081Radicated; deeply-rooted; firmly established. “Prejudices of a whole race of people radicated by a succession of ages.” Burke.Răd/i-cā'tion, n. p. 1081The process of taking root deeply; as, the radication of habits. 2. (Bot.) The disposition of the root of a plant with respect to the ascending and descending caudex. Lee.Rād'i-cĕl, n. p. 1081(Bot.) A little root, or rootlet. Gray.Rād′i-cle, n. p. 1081(Bot.) The rudimentary stem of a plant which supports the cotyledons in the seed, and from which the root is developed downward; the stem of the embryo.Rād'i-ēūle, n. p. 1081(Bot.) That end of the embryo which is opposite to the cotyledons. Loudon.Rā'di-o-lite, n. p. 1081(Zool.) One of a genus of fossil shells having the inferior valve in the shape of a reversed cone, and the superior valve convex. 2. (Min.) A variety of natrolite. Dana.Rā'di-ŏm'e-ter, n. p. 1081The fore staff, an instrument formerly used for taking the altitudes of celestial bodies. Hutton.Rā'di-ōus, a. p. 1081Consisting of rays, as of light. [R.] Berkeley. 2. Radiating; radiant. [Obs.] Fletcher.Rād'ish, n. p. 1081(Bot.) A cultivated plant of the genus Raphanus, the root of which is eaten raw as a salad.Rā′di-ŭs, n. p. 1081Lat. pl. RĀ′DI-Ī. [Lat. See RADIAL.] 1. (Geom.) A right line drawn or extending from the center of a circle to the periphery; the semidiameter of a circle or sphere. 2. (Anat.) The exterior bone of…Rā'di-ŭs-vĕc'tor, n. p. 1081(Math.) A straight line (or the length of such line) connecting any point, as of a curve, with a fixed point, or pole, round which it turns, and to which it serves to refer the successive points of a…Rā'dix, n. p. 1081(Philology.) A primitive word, from which spring other words; a radical; a root; an etymon. 2. (Math.) (a.) A number or quantity which is arbitrarily made; the fundamental number of any system; a…