Dictionary
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.
Wāin'-rōpe, n. p. 1487A rope for binding a load on a wagon; a cart-rope. Shak.Wāin'scot, n. p. 1487Oaken timber or boarding. [Obs.] A wedge of wainscot is fittest and most proper for cleaving of an oaken tree. Urquhart. Being thus arrayed and inclosed in a chest of wainscot, he [Edward the…Wāin'scot, v. t. p. 1487To line with boards or panel-work, or as if with panel-work; as, to wainscot a hall. Music sounds better in chambers wainscoted than hanged. Bacon. The other is wainscoted with looking-glass. Addison.Wāin'scot-ing, n. p. 1487The act of covering or lining with boards in panel. 2. The material used to wainscot a house, or the wainscot as a whole.Wāin’wright, n. p. 1487The same as WAGON-WRIGHT.Wāir, n. p. 1487(Carp.) A piece of plank two yards long and a foot broad. Bailey.Waist, n. p. 1487That part of the human body which is immediately below the ribs or thorax; the small part of the body between the thorax and hips. “Woman to the waist, and fair.” Milton. I am in the waist two yards…Wāist’band, n. p. 1487The band or upper part of breeches, trousers, pantaloons, or the like, which encompasses the waist. 2. A sash worn by ladies around the waist.Wāist'clōth, n. p. 1487A cloth or wrapper worn about the waist; especially, a cotton wrapper so worn by natives of India. Simmonds. 2. (Naut.) A covering of canvas or tarpauling for the hammocks, stowed on the gangways…Wāist'coat, n. p. 1487A short coat or garment, without sleeves, worn under the coat, extending no lower than the hips, and covering the waist; a vest. “The waistcoat was a part of female attire as well as male. . . . It…Wäist'coat-eer', n. p. 1487One wearing a waistcoat; especially, a woman doing so, or thought fit for such a habit; hence, a profligate woman; a strumpet. [Obs.] Do you think you are here, sir, Amongst your waistcoaters, your…Wāist'er, n. p. 1487(Naut.) A seaman, usually a green hand or broken-down man, stationed in the waist of a vessel of war. Dana.Wāit, v. i. p. 1487To stay or rest in expectation; to stop or remain stationary till the arrival of some person or event; to rest in patience; to stay; not to depart. All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till…Wāit, v. t. p. 1488To stay for; to rest or remain stationary in expectation of; to await. Awed with these words, in camps they still abide, And wait, with longing eyes, their promised guide. Dryden. 2. To attend as a…Wāit, n. p. 1488Ambush. 2. One who watches; a watchman. [Obs.] 3. (pl.) Hautboys, or oboes;—not used in the singular. [Obs.] Halliwell. 4. (pl.) Musicians who perform at night or in the early morning; serenaders.…Wāit'er, n. p. 1488One who waits; an attendant; a servant in attendance. The waiters stand in ranks; the yeomen cry, “Make room,” as if a duke were passing by. Swift. 2. A server or salver; a vessel on which something…Wāit'ing-gĕn'tle-wom'an, n. p. 1488A female servant who waits on a gentleman or lady.Wāit'ing-ly, adv. p. 1488By waiting.Wāit'ing-māid or Wāit'ing-wom'an, n. p. 1488A female servant who attends a lady.Wāit'ress, n. p. 1488A female waiter or attendant; a waiting-maid or waiting-woman.Wāive, n. p. 1488A woman put out of the protection of the law.Wāive, v. t. p. 1488To relinquish; to give up claim to; not to insist on or claim; to refuse; to forego. We absolutely do renounce or waive our own opinions, absolutely yielding to the direction of others. Barrow. 2. To…Wāiv'er, n. p. 1488(Law.) The act of waiving, or not insisting on, some right, claim, or privilege.Wāiv'ūre, n. p. 1488The act of waiving; waiver. [Rare.]Wāi'wōde, n. p. 1488In the Turkish empire, the governor of a small province or town; a general. See VAIVODE and WAYVODE.Wāke, v. i. p. 1488To be or to continue awake; to watch; not to sleep. The father waketh for the daughter. Ecclus. xlii. 9. Though wisdom wakes, suspicion sleeps. Milton. I can not think any time, waking or sleeping…Wāke, v. t. p. 1488To rouse from sleep. The angel that talked with me came again and waked me. Zech. iv. 1. 2. To put in motion or action; to arouse; to excite. Lest fierce remembrance wake my sudden rage. Milton. To…Wāke, n. p. 1488Act of waking, or being awaked. “Singing her flatteries to my morning wake.” Dryden. 2. The state of forbearing sleep; vigils, especially for solemn or festive purposes. The warlike wakes continued…Wāke'ful, a. p. 1488Not sleeping; indisposed to sleep; watchful; vigilant. “Dissembling sleep, but wakeful with the fright.” Dryden.Wāke'ful-ly, adv. p. 1488In a wakeful manner; with watching or sleeplessness.Wāke'ful-ness, n. p. 1488The quality or condition of being wakeful; indisposition to sleep; forbearance of sleep; want of sleep.Wāke'man, n. p. 1488The chief magistrate in the town of Rippon, Yorkshire, England. Crabbe.Wāk'en, v. i. p. 1488To wake; to cease to sleep; to be awakened. “Early, Turnus wakening with the light.” Dryden.Wāk'en, v. t. p. 1488To excite or rouse from sleep; to wake; to awake; to awaken. “Go, waken Eve.” Milton. 2. To excite to action or motion. Then Homer's and Tyrtæus' martial muse Wakened the world. Roscommon. 3. To…Wāk'en-er, n. p. 1488One who wakens, or rouses from sleep.Wāk'en-ing, n. p. 1488The act of one who wakens; the act of ceasing to sleep. 2. (Scots Law.) The revival of an action. Burrill. They were too much ashamed to bring any wakening of the process against Janet. W. Scott.Wāk'er, n. p. 1488One who wakes or watches; one who rouses from sleep.Wāke'-rōb'in, n. p. 1488(Bot.) (a.) A European plant; Arum maculatum. (b.) An American plant of the genus Trillium (T. cernuum); nodding trillium.Wāke'-time, n. p. 1488Time during which one is awake. [Rare.] E. B. Browning.Wāk'ing, n. p. 1488State or period of being awake. 2. A watch. [Obs.]Wäl'chōw-īte, n. p. 1488(Min.) A resinous substance occurring in yellow, translucent masses, often striped with brown;—formerly called retinite. Dana.Wâld, n. p. 1488A forest;—used as a termination of names. See WEALD and WOLD.Wal-dēn'ses, n. pl. p. 1488(Eccl. Hist.) A sect of Christians professing substantially Protestant principles, who never submitted to the Roman Catholic church. They reside in the valleys of Piedmont. See VAUDOIS.Wald′grāve, n. p. 1488In the old German empire, the head forest-keeper; wildgrave.Wāle, n. p. 1488A streak or stripe; the mark of a rod or whip on animal flesh. “Struck his back and shoulders so that bloody wales arose.” Chapman. 2. A ridge or streak rising above the surface of cloth, &c.; hence…Wāle, v. t. p. 1488To mark with wales or stripes.Wāle'-knŏt, n. p. 1488See WALL-KNŌT.Wal-hăl'la, n. p. 1488See VALHALLA.Walk, v. i. p. 1488To move along on foot; to advance by steps; to go on at a moderate pace; to proceed at a slower or faster rate, but without running, or lifting one foot before the other is set down. At the end of…Walk, v. t. p. 1488To pass through or upon; to traverse; to perambulate; as, to walk the streets. 2. To cause to walk or step slowly; to lead, drive, or ride with a slow pace; as, to walk one's horses up hill. To walk…Walk, n. p. 1488The act of walking, or moving on the feet with a slow pace; advance without running or leaping. 2. The act of walking for air or exercise; as, a morning walk; an evening walk. 3. Manner of walking…Walk'a-ble, a. p. 1489Fit to be walked on; capable of being walked on or over. [Rare.] Swift.Walker, n. p. 1489One who walks. 2. The instrument of walking; a foot. [Obs. and rare.] “Lame Mulciber, his walkers quite mis-grown.” Chapman. 3. (Law.) A forest officer appointed to walk over a certain space for…Walk'er, n. p. 1489A fuller of cloth. [Obs.] She cursed the weaver and the walker The cloth that had wrought. Percy's Reliques.Walk'ing-bēam, n. p. 1489See BEAM, 10.Walk'ing-fērn, n. p. 1489(Bot.) A plant of the genus Lycopodium; a species of club-moss. Loudon.Walk'ing-leaf, n. p. 1489(Bot.) A fern of the genus Camptosorus (C. rhizophyllus), found in the United States, the fronds of which taper into slender prolongations, which often root at the apex, giving rise to new…Walk'ing-staff, n. p. 1489A staff or stick carried in the hand for support or amusement in walking; a cane.Walk'ing-stick, n. p. 1489A stick or staff carried in the hand when walking; a walking-staff; a cane. 2. (Entom.) An insect of the family Phasmidæ; — so called from its long, slender, wingless body, which resembles a piece of…Walk'ing-wheel, n. p. 1489(Mach.) A prime mover consisting of a wheel driven by the weight of men walking either in it or on it; a tread-wheel.