Library

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.

  1. Yăp, v. i.p. 1532To bark; to yelp. L’Estrange.
  2. Yā'pon or Yă'pon, n.p. 1532(Bot.) The Ilex cassine, a shrub growing in the south-eastern parts of the United States, the leaves of which are used in making tea, and also as a medicine.
  3. Yār'age, n.p. 1532(Naut.) (a.) The power of moving or being managed at sea;—said with reference to a ship. (b.) Furniture; equipage; tackling. [Obs.] He might, with his light ships, well manned with watermen, turn and…
  4. Yārd, n.p. 1532A measure of length, equaling three feet, or thirty-six inches, being the standard of English and American measure. 2. A long piece of timber, as a rafter, and the like. [Obs.] Oxf. Gloss. 3. The…
  5. Yärd, n.p. 1532An inclosure; usually, a small, inclosed place in front of or around a house or barn; as, a court-yard; a cow-yard; a barn-yard. Liberty of the yard, a liberty, granted to persons imprisoned for…
  6. Yärd, v. t.p. 1532To confine cattle to the yard; to shut up in a yard; as, to yard cows.
  7. Yärd'-ärm, n.p. 1532(Naut.) Either half of a ship's yard, from the center or mast to the end. ☞ Ships are said to be yard-arm and yard-arm when so near as to touch, or interlock their yards.
  8. Yärd'ful, n.p. 1532As much as a yard will contain; enough to fill a yard.
  9. Yärd'-länd, n.p. 1532A measure of land of uncertain quantity, varying from fifteen to forty acres. [Obs.]
  10. Yärd'-stick, n.p. 1532A stick three feet in length, used as a measure of cloth, and the like.
  11. Yärd'-wänd, n.p. 1532A measure of a yard; a yard-stick.
  12. Yāre, a.p. 1532Ready; dexterous; eager; lively; quick. [Obs.] Be yare in thy preparation. Shak.
  13. Yâre'ly, adv.p. 1532In a yare manner; readily; promptly; quickly; dexterously; skillfully. [Obs.] Shak.
  14. Yärk, v. t.p. 1532To yerk or jerk. See YERK. [Prov. Eng.]
  15. Yärn, n.p. 1532Spun wool; woolen thread; also, thread of other materials, as of cotton, flax, hemp, or silk; material spun and prepared for weaving. 2. (Rope-making.) One of the threads of which a rope is composed.…
  16. Yärn'en, a.p. 1532Made of yarn; consisting of yarn. “A pair of yarnen stocks.” [Obs.] Turberville.
  17. Yär'-nŭt, n.p. 1532See YER-NUT.
  18. Yärr, v. i.p. 1532To growl or snarl as a dog. [Obs.] Ainsworth.
  19. Yär'rish, a.p. 1532Having a rough, dry taste. [Prov. Eng.]
  20. Yär'rōw, n.p. 1532(Bot.) A composite plant (Achillea millefolium), having a strong odor and pungent taste. It is a native of Europe, where it is used as a vulnerary, and is common in the United States; the milfoil. It…
  21. Yăt’/a-ghăn, n.p. 1532A long Turkish dagger. See ATAGHAN.
  22. Yāte, n.p. 1532A gate. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Spenser.
  23. Yaulp or Yaup, v. i.p. 1532To cry out like a child; to yelp. [Rare.] [Scot. and U. S.] [Written also yaup. ]
  24. Yaup'er, n.p. 1532One who, or that which, yaups.
  25. Yau'pon, n.p. 1532See YAPON.
  26. Yaw, v. i.p. 1532To rise in blisters, breaking in white froth, as cane-juice in the sugar-works. 2. [Prov. Ger. gagen, to rock, gageln, to totter, shake.] (Naut.) To steer wild, or out of the line of her course, as a…
  27. Yaw, n.p. 1532(Naut.) A movement of a vessel by which she temporarily alters her course; deviation from the right way in steering.
  28. Yawd, n.p. 1532A jade; an old horse or mare. [Prov. Eng.] Grose.
  29. Yawl, n.p. 1532(Naut.) A small ship's-boat, usually rowed by four or six oars. [Written also yaul.]
  30. Yăwl, v. i.p. 1532To cry out like a dog; to yell. “There howling Scyllas yawling round about.”
  31. Yawn, v. i.p. 1533To open the mouth involuntarily through drowsiness, dullness, or fatigue; to gape; to oscillate. “The lazy, yawning drone.” Shak. And while above he spends his breath, The yawning audience nod…
  32. Yawn, n.p. 1533A deep and involuntary inspiration, with a pretty wide opening of the mouth, followed by a prolonged and more or less sonorous expiration; oscitation; a gaping. One person yawning in company will…
  33. Yawn'ing-ly, adv.p. 1533In a yawning manner.
  34. Yăwp, v. i.p. 1533To yawp or yelp. See YAUP.
  35. Yaws, n.p. 1533(Med.) A disease of the Antilles and of Africa, characterized by tumors, of a contagious character, which, in shape and appearance, resemble strawberries or raspberries. These tumors ulcerate and are…
  36. Y̆-cleped′, p. p.p. 1533Called; named;—obsolete, except in burlesque or humorous writings. But come, thou goddess fair and free, In heaven ycleped Euphrosyne. Milton.
  37. Yē, pron.p. 1533The nominative plural of the second person;—sometimes inaccurately used as the objective. “I will receive ye.” Milton. But ye are washed; but ye are sanctified. 1 Cor. vi. 11.
  38. Yea (yā or yĕ), adv.p. 1533Yes; ay. See YES. Let your communication be yea, yea; nay, nay. Matt. v. 37. Yea sometimes introduces a subject, with the sense of indeed, verily, truly, it is so. “Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not…
  39. Yēad, v. i.p. 1533To go; to march; to proceed. [Obs.] In other pace than forth he yode, Returned Lord Marmion. W. Scott. Years yead away and faces fair deflower. Drant.
  40. Yēan, v. t. & i.p. 1533To bring forth young, as a goat or sheep; to lamb. Shak.
  41. Yeān'ling, n.p. 1533The young of sheep; a lamb. Shak.
  42. Year, n.p. 1533The time of the apparent revolution of the sun through the ecliptic; the period occupied by the earth in making its revolution around the sun; also, a period more or less nearly agreeing with this…
  43. Yēar'-book, n.p. 1533A book published yearly; any annual report or summary of the statistics or facts of a year, designed to be used as a reference book; as, the Congregational Year-book. 2. (Eng. Law.) A book containing…
  44. Yēared, a.p. 1533Containing years; having existed or continued many years; full of years; aged. [Obs.]
  45. Year'ling, n.p. 1533A young animal one year old, or in the second year of his age.
  46. Year'ling, a.p. 1533Being a year old. “A yearling bullock.” Pope.
  47. Year'ly, a.p. 1533Happening, accruing, or coming every year; annual; as, a yearly rent or income. 2. Lasting a year; as, a yearly plant. 3. Accomplished in a year; as, the yearly circuit or revolution of the earth.
  48. Year'ly, adv.p. 1533Annually; once a year; from year to year; as, blessings yearly bestowed. Yearly will I do this rite. Shak.
  49. Yĕarn, v. i.p. 1533To be strained; to be pained or distressed; to suffer. [Obs.] Falstaff, he is dead, And we must yearn therefore. Shak. 2. To be filled with longing desire; to be harassed or rendered uneasy with…
  50. Yĕarn, v. t.p. 1533To pain; to grieve; to vex. [Obs.] She laments, sir, for it, that it would yearn your heart to see it. Shak. It yearns me not if men my garments wear. Shak.
  51. Yēarn'ful, a.p. 1533Mournful; distressing. [Obs.]
  52. Yēarn'ing-ly, adv.p. 1533With yearning.
  53. Yēarn'ings, n. pl.p. 1533The maws or stomachs of young calves, used as a rennet for curdling milk. [Scot.] Simmonds.
  54. Yēarth, n.p. 1533The earth. [Obs.] Chaucer.
  55. Yeast, n.p. 1533The foam or froth of beer or other liquor in fermentation; a preparation used for raising dough for bread or cakes, and making it light and puffy; barm; ferment. 2. Spume or foam of water. [Obs.]…
  56. Yeast'-i-ness, n.p. 1533The state of being yeasty or frothy.
  57. Yeast'y, a.p. 1533Frothy, foamy; spumy, like yeast.
  58. Yēde, v. i.p. 1533To go; to yead. [Obs.]
  59. Yeel, n.p. 1533The same as EEL, q. v. [Obs.] Holland.
  60. Yĕlk, n.p. 1533The yellow part of an egg; vitellus. ☞ This word is sometimes written yolk, but yelk is more accordant with the etymology.